Effect tongue pressure feedback training with enabling education on swallowing and depression in head and neck tumor patients.

Abstract

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer often develop depressive symptoms during radiochemotherapy due to changes in saliva secretion, radiation-induced oral mucositis, and dysphagia. These symptoms significantly affect quality of life. Although existing nursing interventions provide some relief, they have limitations in improving swallowing function and developing coping strategies.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of tongue pressure resistance feedback training combined with empowerment education in improving depressive symptoms and swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiochemotherapy.

Methods: This study included 110 patients with head and neck cancer who exhibited depressive symptoms and underwent radiochemotherapy at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University between January 2021 and December 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to either a reference group or an experimental group, each comprising 55 patients. The reference group received routine care, whereas the experimental group received tongue pressure resistance feedback training and empowerment education. After 6 weeks of continuous intervention, comparisons were made between the two groups regarding depressive symptom scores, swallowing function, coping strategies, and quality of life, both pre- and post-intervention.

Results: Following the intervention, both groups demonstrated decreased scores for depressive symptoms and swallowing function, with the experimental group showing a significantly greater reduction than the reference group (P < 0.05). The experimental group also demonstrated higher confrontation scores and lower avoidance and submission scores for coping strategies than the reference group (P < 0.05). Quality of life scores improved in both groups after the intervention, with the experimental group showing markedly higher scores than the reference group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of tongue pressure resistance feedback training and empowerment education is effective in alleviating depressive symptoms, enhancing swallowing function, optimizing coping strategies, and significantly improving the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiochemotherapy. This approach shows promise for clinical applications and promotion.