•
communicate one-on-one with the patients and listen
patiently to provide a caring atmosphere and to promote
relaxation and a positive, optimistic attitude. The goal
was to gradually establish a relationship of mutual trust
between the nurses and the patient;
•
promote health education through brochures, multimedia
technologies, and other approaches supplied by Peoples
Medical Publishing House Co., LTD (Beijing, China). Nurses
explained the disease, as well as the surgical procedures,
precautions, and possible adverse effects, to patients and
their families in detail. The health education programs
were adjusted as necessary according to the patient’s
needs and demands;
•
create a harmonious and friendly ambience to transfer the
patient’s focus from cancer. As related to the different
emotions of patients, nurses played appropriate relaxing
music and videos and encouraged patients to participate
in their favorite activities to avoid the accumulation of
anxiety, tension, and other negative emotions. Patients
were encouraged to chat with each other and were taught
methods to drain negative emotions, such as listening to
music or crying to heal;
•
strive for cooperation from the patient’s family and their
social supports. Most cancer patients will go through a
long and painful treatment process, and the illness, pain,
high medical costs, and fear of death will impose an
invisible spiritual burden. Thus, support and understanding
from their sources of social support and family play
an invaluable role during treatment. During treatment,
nurses could contact the patient’s family or support unit
(by follow-up, telephone, etc.) and communicate with
them about the patient’s psychological problems. The
goal was to try to ease the patient’s negative emotions
with supportive assistance.