Construction and verification of rehabilitation nursing program for shoulder and neck discomfort after thyroid cancer surgery: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: To develop a nursing program for the prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder and neck discomfort after thyroid cancer surgery based on the empowerment theory, and to evaluate the application effect of the program. Methods: The prevention and rehabilitation nursing program for shoulder and neck discomfort after thyroid cancer surgery was established by literature review and the Delphi method. Between July 2022 and January 2023, a total of 62 postoperative thyroid cancer patients were recruited and randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 31) or the control group (n = 31) in this randomized controlled trial. Comparisons of shoulder and neck function, self-efficacy, and quality of life between the 2 groups were performed using a 2-sample independent t test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: At the end of the study, the control group and intervention group were 30 cases each completed the study. After the intervention, the self-efficacy score of the intervention group was higher than the control group (P < .05), and the score of emotional function, cognitive function, and overall health dimension of the intervention group was higher than the control group (P < .05). The pain dimension score of the intervention group was lower than the control group (P < .05). There were significant differences in the group and time effects of the total shoulder joint scores between the 2 groups (P < .05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the shoulder and neck rehabilitation nursing program can alleviate the symptoms of shoulder and neck discomfort and improve patients’ self-efficacy and quality of life.