Data-Driven Investigation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Approaches for Optimizing Multiple Clinical Parameters in Esophageal Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the comparative effects of conventional perioperative care and conventional care plus Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) appropriate technology on blood glucose fluctuation, comfort level, and stress response in postoperative esophageal cancer patients. Methods: This study included 100 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy in our hospital’s thoracic surgery department from January 2023 to June 2024. Patients were randomly divided into a study group and a control group, with 50 cases in each group, using a computer-generated random number table (generated via SPSS 22.0 software) to ensure randomization integrity. The control group received conventional perioperative care, while the study group received TCM appropriate technology in addition to conventional care. Blood glucose fluctuations were monitored 1 day before surgery, and on postoperative Days 1, 3, 7, and 14. On the day before surgery and postoperative Day 14, the General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ) and Perceived Nursing Service Quality (PNSQ) scale were used to evaluate patients’ comfort levels and perception of service quality. The Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) was used to assess psychological stress state. Physiological stress was evaluated by analyzing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (Cor) levels. Results: Significant differences in blood glucose fluctuation values were observed between the study group and control group (between-group F = 9.457, p < 0.001). Significant differences also existed across different time points (time point F = 6.542, p < 0.001), with a significant interaction effect between group and time point (group∗time point F = 10.055, p < 0.001). Although blood glucose fluctuation levels in both groups showed a downward trend, the study group demonstrated significantly lower blood glucose fluctuation values than the control group at all time points: 1 day before surgery, and on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 14 (p < 0.05). The study group’s total GCQ score on postoperative Day 14 (89.36 ± 12.40) was higher than the control group (73.07 ± 10.14), with all intergroup differences in scores across the four dimensions being statistically significant (p < 0.001). The study group’s CD-RISC score on postoperative Day 14 (74.23 ± 10.3) was higher than the control group (65.34 ± 9.06), while ACTH (12.23 ± 1.68 ng/L) and Cor (9.46 ± 1.29 ng/L) levels were lower than the control group (14.41 ± 1.98 and 10.22 ± 1.41 ng/L, respectively). All differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: TCM appropriate technology significantly reduces blood glucose fluctuations in patients undergoing radical esophagectomy, improves patient comfort levels, and positively impacts psychological stress (via higher Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale [CD-RISC] scores: 74.23 ± 10.3 vs. 65.34 ± 9.06) and physiological stress (via lower adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]: 12.23 ± 1.68 vs. 14.41 ± 1.98 ng/L; cortisol [Cor]: 9.46 ± 1.29 vs. 10.22 ± 1.41 ng/L).