# The effect of multimodal care based on Peplau’s interpersonal relationship theory on postoperative recovery in lung cancer surgery: a retrospective analysis

## TL;DR

This study shows that using Peplau's nursing theory in lung cancer surgery improves patient recovery and reduces uncertainty, though it doesn't affect hospital stay or complications.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the viability of Peplau’s interpersonal relationship theory in improving postoperative recovery and reducing illness uncertainty in lung cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Patients receiving Peplau-based nursing had lower illness uncertainty and better quality of recovery.
- The nursing model showed viability and efficacy in clinical practice, expanding therapeutic practice scope.
- No significant differences were found in post-anesthesia care unit stay or complication rates between groups.

## Abstract

Lung cancer remains a major global health concern due to its high incidence and mortality rates. With advancements in medical treatments, an increasing number of early-stage lung cancer cases are being detected, making surgical treatment the primary option for such cases. However, this presents challenges to the physical and mental recovery of patients. Peplau known as the “mother of psychiatric associations” has formulated a theory of interpersonal relationships in nursing. Through effective communication between nurses and patients over four periods, she has established a good therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of perioperative multimodal nursing based on Peplau’s interpersonal relationship theory on the rehabilitation of patients with surgical lung cancer.

We retrospectively analyzed 106 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy at our department between June 2021 and April 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the different nursing intervention techniques. The Peplau’s group comprised 53 patients who received targeted nursing interventions, and the control group comprised 53 patients who received conventional nursing care. We observed the patients’ illness uncertainty, quality of life, and clinical symptoms in both groups.

Patients in the Peplau’s group had significantly lower illness uncertainty scores and a significantly higher quality of recovery than those in the control group. However, there were no significant differences in length of post-anesthesia care unit stay, complication rates, and visual analog scores between both groups.

The multimodal perioperative nursing based on Peplau’s interpersonal relationship theory not only reduces the illness uncertainty of patients with lung cancer surgery and improves their QoR but also expands the application of this theory in clinical practice, guiding perioperative nursing of patients with lung cancer.

These findings provide practical information for standardized care in a hectic anesthetic care setting.

The assessed anesthesia nursing model helps reduce uncertainty and promote early recovery in patients with cancer at various stages of their disease, which expands the scope of therapeutic practice and existing theories. It also serves as a guide for care in the anesthesia recovery room.

We adhered to the relevant Equator guidelines and the checklist of items in the case–control study report.

Patients cooperated with medical staff to complete relevant scales.

•Demand for nursing care from patients with NSCLC at various stages of the disease varies and changes over time.•The anesthesia nursing model based on Peplau’s interpersonal relationship theory helps to reduce uncertainty and promote early recovery in patients with cancer.•This model has some viability and efficacy, which expands the scope of therapeutic practice and existing theories. It also serves as a guide for care in the anesthesia recovery room.

•Demand for nursing care from patients with NSCLC at various stages of the disease varies and changes over time.

•The anesthesia nursing model based on Peplau’s interpersonal relationship theory helps to reduce uncertainty and promote early recovery in patients with cancer.

•This model has some viability and efficacy, which expands the scope of therapeutic practice and existing theories. It also serves as a guide for care in the anesthesia recovery room.