The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy nursing intervention on the psychological and mental state of patients with advanced cancer

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate the effect of a nursing intervention with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on the improvement of psychological and mental state in patients with advanced cancer. Method: A total of 93 patients with advanced cancer who were admitted to the hospital from March 2022 to May 2024 were selected as the study sample and randomly divided into two groups. These patients were subsequently categorized into two distinct groups, employing a rigorous random grouping methodology. Specifically, the control group comprised 46 patients who underwent the standard nursing intervention. Conversely, the observation group, consisting of 47 patients, was administered ACT while adhering to the established standards of the control group. A comparison was conducted between the two groups, focusing on the disparities in mental state measured by the Hope Index Scale (HHI), psychological distress evaluated by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Disease Treatment-Spirituality Scale (FACIT-Sp), anxiety levels assessed through the Anxiety Self-Rating Scale (SAS), depression scores determined using the Depression Self-Rating Scale (SDS), and the quality of life indices calculated based on the Quality of Life Measurement Scale for Cancer Patients (FACT). Result: The scores of realistic and future positive attitudes [(11.82 ± 2.26) points], positive actions [(12.46 ± 1.95) points] and maintaining intimate relationships with others [(11.67 ± 1.28) points] in the HHI scale scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After intervention, the SAS scale score [(56.91 ± 3.23) points] and SDS scale score [(56.53 ± 4.41) points] of the patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the FACIT-Sp score of the observation group significantly increased to (122.99 ± 13.02), demonstrating a statistically significant elevation compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the scores pertaining to physiological status within the observation group in the FACT scale were elevated to (20.84 ± 3.72), (19.21 ± 3.06), (21.34 ± 3.85), and (18.04 ± 3.22), respectively, all of which were notably higher than those observed in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ACT nursing intervention in patients with advanced cancer has significant effects, increasing the level of hope, reducing negative emotions and psychological distress, and improving quality of life.