Published online Jun 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i6.115202
Revised: January 15, 2026
Accepted: March 16, 2026
Published online: June 19, 2026
Processing time: 205 Days and 0.6 Hours
Patients with advanced cancer frequently experience significant psychological distress, which is often inadequately addressed by standard palliative care. Although humanistic care, an approach emphasizing respect for patient values, dignity, and individualized emotional support, is widely endorsed, its benefits, especially for those diagnosed with advanced cancer, remain unclear.
To assess whether integrating personalized psychological nursing with huma
This retrospective single-center study included data from 110 patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy, divided into 2 groups: Control [conventional palliative care, June 2022 to November 2023 (n = 42)] and intervention [combined psychological-humanistic support, December 2023 to June 2025 (n = 68)]. The distress thermometer (DT), State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), State Self-Esteem Scale, and World Health Organization QoL Measure Short Form were used at baseline (T0) and 4 weeks (T1). Family members completed satisfaction surveys after discharge or death.
After the intervention, both groups exhibited reduced mean DT and SAI scores (all P < 0.001), with greater mean reductions in the intervention group [DT, 2.8 ± 1.1 vs 4.9 ± 1.4; SAI, 38.5 ± 5.2 vs 47.8 ± 6.1 (P < 0.001)]. The intervention group exhibited a more notable improvement in the mean State Self-Esteem Scale score (82.4 ± 6.8 vs 71.6 ± 7.5; P < 0.001). Significant enhancements in the psychological and social aspects of QoL were observed (P < 0.001), along with increased satisfaction with hospice care (93.5 vs 84.2; P < 0.001).
Integrated psychological and humanistic care is more effective in easing distress, enhancing self-esteem and psychosocial QoL, and increasing family satisfaction with care; thus representing a promising advance in psycho-oncological care.
Core Tip: This single-center retrospective cohort study included data from 110 patients with advanced cancer undergoing first-line chemotherapy in a hospice ward between June 2022 and June 2025, divided into 2 groups: Control (standard palliative care) and intervention (standard care plus a four-week personalized psychological-humanistic intervention, which included psychological assessment, dignity therapy, family care conferences, and comfort care). Outcomes according to various scales revealed significantly reduced psychological distress and anxiety, increased self-esteem, improved quality of life, and higher family satisfaction in the observation group. These results support the effectiveness of a personalized psychological-humanistic care model in enhancing hospice care outcomes.