Effect of family synchronous empowerment education on postoperative esophageal cancer patients and their primary caregivers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of family synchronous empowerment education on the caregiving ability and preparedness of primary caregivers, as well as the nutritional status and quality of life of patients who have undergone esophagectomy. A total of 102 patients who were treated with thoracoscopic radical resection for esophageal cancer and their primary caregivers from August 2023 to March 2024 were selected and evenly divided into a control group and an intervention group, with 51 cases in each group. The control group received standard nursing education, whereas the intervention group received additional family synchronous empowerment education. Both the preparedness and ability of the primary caregivers to provide care, as well as the nutritional status and quality of life of the patients, were assessed at admission and 1 month post-discharge. Post-intervention, the intervention group's primary caregivers demonstrated significantly improved caregiving ability and preparedness compared to the control group (p < .05). Similarly, patients in the intervention group exhibited significantly better nutritional status and quality of life than those in the control group (p < .05). The study concluded that the implementation of family synchronous empowerment education significantly enhances the caregiving ability and preparedness of primary caregivers and improves the nutritional status and quality of life in patients after esophagectomy.

Keywords

caregiver preparedness / caregiving ability / esophageal cancer / family synchronous empowerment education / nutritional status / postoperative care / primary caregivers / quality of life

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2025 The Author(s). Precision Medical Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital.