Factors associated with fatigue one month after surgery in patients with gastrointestinal cancer

Impact of Health Education Based on Protective Motivation Theory on the Mood State, Cancer-Related Fatigue, and Hope Level of Gastric Cancer Patients

Background

Gastric cancer patients often feel physically tired and weak, lacking confidence and enthusiasm for relevant treatments. We aimed to explore the impacts of health education based on the theory of protective motivation on the emotional state, cancer-related fatigue, and hope levels of gastric cancer patients.

Methods

A total of 160 gastric cancer patients admitted to the Sanmenxia Central Hospital, Henan, China, from May 2019 to March 2022 were selected as subjects. The control group (n=80) received routine health education, while the observation group (n=80) received health education based on the theory of protective motivation. Intervention evaluations included the Morisky medication compliance score, Plain Mood State Scale (POMS), Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS), Herth Hope Scale (HHI), and Simple Health Survey Scale (SF-36).

Results

After intervention, both groups showed an improvement in Morisky's medication compliance score, HHI scale score, and SF-36 scale score (all P<0.05). Additionally, the observation group exhibited greater improvement than the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in POMS scale score and CFS scale score between the two groups before and after intervention. However, after intervention, both groups experienced a decrease in POMS scale score and CFS scale score (both P<0.05), with the observation group showing a more significant decrease compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Health education based on the theory of protective motivation effectively enhances the mood state, reduces cancer-related fatigue, and increases hope levels among gastric cancer patients, thereby improving their medication compliance and overall quality of life.