The effect of the nurse navigation program applied in line with supportive care needs on anxiety-depression, adaptation to the disease and quality of life in patients diagnosed with lung cancer

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the nurse navigation program (LungCaNN) implemented in line with the supportive care needs of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients on depression-anxiety-stress levels, adaptation to the disease and quality of life. Method: This research is a randomized controlled experimental study. The study was included between June 2023 and July 2024, and a total of 77 patients, 39 of whom were in the intervention group (LungCaNN) and 38 in the control group, who met the comprehensively examined criteria and were enrolled by simple randomization method, were completed with newly diagnosed lung cancer treatment. The needs of the patients in the intervention group were determined and a face-to-face navigation program was implemented by the navigator nurse over the phone three times over a period of 12 weeks. The control group received standard care without any intervention. Personal Information Form, Depression, Stress, Anxiety Scale, Chronic DiseaseAdjustment Scale and EORTC QLQ – C30 Quality of Life Scale/LC-13 Lung Module were used to collect data. Post-test data were collected at the end of week 12. Results: Sociodemographic and disease characteristics of the intervention group and control group were similar (p>0.05). It was determined that the LungCaNN intervention group had lower mean depression, stress, and anxiety scores, higher mean adaptation to chronic diseases and general quality of life compared to the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.01). Emergency room visit rates are lower in the intervention group. Conclusion: The nurse navigation program implemented provided a decrease in depression, stress, anxiety levels, and an increase in adaptation to chronic diseases and overall quality of life in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients. It is recommended that this program be integrated into oncology clinics.