Qian RH, Xu Y. Process-based nursing using explanation-simulation-practice-communication-support model for pain management after liver cancer intervention. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(7): 118632 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i7.118632]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yan Xu, Associate Chief Nurse, Interventional Liver Tumor Center in Liver Disease Area, Ganzhou Fifth People’s Hospital (Ganzhou Liver Disease Research Institute), No. 666 Dongjiangyuan Avenue, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China. bww140907@126.com
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Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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Qian RH, Xu Y. Process-based nursing using explanation-simulation-practice-communication-support model for pain management after liver cancer intervention. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(7): 118632 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i7.118632]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2026; 18(7): 118632 Published online Jul 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i7.118632
Process-based nursing using explanation-simulation-practice-communication-support model for pain management after liver cancer intervention
Ri-Hong Qian, Yan Xu
Ri-Hong Qian, Yan Xu, Interventional Liver Tumor Center in Liver Disease Area, Ganzhou Fifth People’s Hospital (Ganzhou Liver Disease Research Institute), Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China
Author contributions: Qian RH is responsible for research design, clinical data collection and organization, statistical analysis, and writing and revising the initial draft of the paper; Xu Y is responsible for reviewing and optimizing the research proposal, approving the final draft of the paper, and overseeing the entire research process; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript and agree to submit it.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Ganzhou Fifth People’s Hospital (Ganzhou Liver Disease Research Institute), approval No. GZWY-EC-Keshen-2025014.
Informed consent statement: All study participants and their legal guardians provided written informed consent prior to study enrolment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Yan Xu, Associate Chief Nurse, Interventional Liver Tumor Center in Liver Disease Area, Ganzhou Fifth People’s Hospital (Ganzhou Liver Disease Research Institute), No. 666 Dongjiangyuan Avenue, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China. bww140907@126.com
Received: February 3, 2026 Revised: March 3, 2026 Accepted: April 7, 2026 Published online: July 15, 2026 Processing time: 160 Days and 0.8 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Liver cancer is highly prevalent and fatal; transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is its main interventional therapy. Post-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization pain is common and affects recovery, demanding optimized nursing strategies.
AIM
To explore the application of process-based nursing using the Explain-Simulate-Practice-Communication-Support (ESPCS) model for pain management after interventional therapy for liver cancer.
METHODS
A total of 500 patients who underwent interventional therapy for liver cancer and were admitted to Ganzhou Fifth People’s Hospital between January 2022 and January 2025 were selected and divided into a control group (n = 250, treated with routine nursing intervention) and an observation group (n = 250, treated with process-based nursing intervention using the ESPCS model) using a random number table method. Both groups received the intervention until discharge. The Visual Analog Scale scores at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after surgery, the scores of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General before and after intervention, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
At 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours postoperatively, the Visual Analog Scale scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (2 hours: 4.18 ± 0.85 vs 4.36 ± 1.03, P = 0.034; 6 hours: 3.31 ± 0.67 vs 3.69 ± 0.82, P < 0.001; 12 hours: 2.89 ± 0.58 vs 3.13 ± 0.65, P < 0.001; 24 hours: 1.82 ± 0.69 vs 2.51 ± 0.82, P < 0.001). After intervention, HADS-Anxiety and HADS-Depression scores were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (HADS-Anxiety: 7.15 ± 1.57 vs 8.43 ± 1.82; HADS-Depression: 6.72 ± 1.49 vs 7.26 ± 1.76; both P < 0.001). Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General domain scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, including physical well-being (26.25 ± 3.01 vs 24.40 ± 2.77), social/family well-being (18.33 ± 2.65 vs 16.06 ± 2.12), emotional well-being (28.35 ± 3.43 vs 25.70 ± 3.12), and functional well-being (18.45 ± 3.03 vs 16.84 ± 2.86) (all P < 0.001). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (3.20% vs 7.20%, P = 0.044).
CONCLUSION
Process-based nursing interventions based on the ESPCS model can effectively alleviate the degree of pain in patients after interventional therapy for liver cancer, improve their psychological state and quality of life, and reduce the incidence of complications.
Core Tip: Process-based nursing based on the Explain-Simulate-Practice-Communication-Support model significantly reduced postoperative pain scores, alleviated anxiety and depression, improved quality of life, and lowered complication rates in patients undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for liver cancer. This model provides an evidence-based and structured nursing framework for postoperative pain management.
