A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions on Anxiety among Postoperative Oral Cancer Patients Admitted in Regional Cancer Centre, Tripura, India

Nath S, Pattnaik M and Debnath A

Published on: 2025-06-23

Abstract

Introduction: Oral cancer ranks as the most prevalent head and neck cancer, with over 300,000 cases reported each year globally, causing mortality for nearly half of the patients. They deal with anxiety, a nuanced and widespread symptom that has a harmful influence on their quality of life. Yet, it is frequently undervalued and not appropriately addressed in healthcare settings.

Aim: The research focused on examining the occurrence of anxiety in patients with post-oral cancer surgery and emphasized the essential significance of nursing interventions for alleviating anxiety.

Methods: The examination was performed at the Regional Cancer Centre of Tripura, India. Ethical approval and written informed consent were gathered from 300 post-operative patients with oral cancer, separated into two groups of 150. A nursing intervention was exclusively given to the experimental group. The study followed a randomized control design and employed a quantitative methodology. In addition, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scale was assessed.

Results:  Both groups reflected a reduction in the mean and standard deviation of anxiety levels in the post-tests in comparison to the pre-tests. However, the experimental group exhibited a considerable decline in anxiety in comparison to the control group (p=0.01).

Conclusion:  After the nursing intervention, there was a significant improvement in postoperative anxiety. Proactive identification and management of anxiety can positively influence treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life. This thorough nursing approach, characterized by individualized education and counselling, has empowered cancer patients with effective tools to manage their anxiety.