# Comprehensive nursing care for advanced digestive malignancy patients during chemotherapy based on probiotic intervention: a randomized controlled study on improvement of gastrointestinal function and prevention of complications

## TL;DR

This study shows that combining probiotics with comprehensive nursing care improves digestion, nutrition, and quality of life for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

## Contribution

A novel combined probiotic and nursing care protocol is shown to reduce chemotherapy complications in digestive cancer patients.

## Key findings

- The observation group had significantly better gastrointestinal function scores after 8 weeks of intervention.
- Nutritional indicators like serum albumin and prealbumin were significantly higher in the probiotic group.
- Quality of life and nursing satisfaction were improved in the group receiving the combined intervention.

## Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of a comprehensive nursing protocol combined with a probiotic intervention on improving gastrointestinal function, reducing non-infectious complications, and enhancing the quality of life in patients with advanced digestive malignancies undergoing chemotherapy, thereby providing evidence-based support for chemotherapy nursing care.

A total of 300 advanced digestive malignancy patients undergoing chemotherapy at Our Oncology Specialty Hospital from January 2021 to December 2024 were randomly divided into a control group (150 patients) and an observation group (150 patients) using a random number table. The control group received conventional chemotherapy nursing care, while the observation group received a combined probiotic intervention along with comprehensive nursing care. Baseline data, gastrointestinal function scores (bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea/vomiting), nutritional status indicators (serum albumin, prealbumin, BMI), and quality of life scores (EORTC QOLQ-C30) were recorded before and after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of intervention. Non-infectious complications and nursing satisfaction were also evaluated. The dynamic effects of the intervention were analyzed using Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE).

No significant differences were observed between the groups at baseline (P>0.05). However, after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of intervention, the observation group exhibited significantly improved gastrointestinal function, with lower scores across all dimensions compared to the control group (P<0.05). At week 8, the total gastrointestinal function score in the observation group (1.57 ± 0.58) was significantly lower than the control group (3.74 ± 1.05) (t=22.156, P = 0.000). The observation group also showed significantly higher nutritional indicators: serum albumin (41.53 ± 2.96 vs. 36.18 ± 3.42), prealbumin (276.41 ± 17.53 vs. 218.65 ± 20.37), and BMI (23.58 ± 2.86 vs. 22.37 ± 3.21) (P<0.01). Additionally, the observation group had higher quality of life scores and lower complication rates (P<0.05), with increased nursing satisfaction. GEE analysis confirmed that the observation group showed greater improvements in all measured indicators over time compared to the control group (P<0.01).

The comprehensive nursing protocol with probiotic intervention significantly improves gastrointestinal function, enhances nutritional status, reduces non-infectious complications, and boosts the quality of life in chemotherapy patients with advanced digestive malignancy. This intervention demonstrates substantial clinical benefits and therapeutic value.