title: Influence of psychological intervention on pain and immune functions of patients receiving lung cancer surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the influence of psychological intervention on pain, immune system and adrenocortical functions of patients receiving lung cancer surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 124 patients who received surgery for treating stage I or II lung cancer and divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group received comprehensive psychological intervention while the control group was given conventional nursing intervention. Pain of patients in two groups was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Before and after intervention, CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) and free cortisol level in serum were measured. Moreover, QLQ-C30, a life quality measurement scale developed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to control group, VAS of patients in experimental group remarkably decreased before anesthesia, 6 hour, 12 hour 24 hour and 48 hour after surgery (P<0.05), and moreover, OLQ-C30 score and various factor scores (except physical symptoms) in experimental group were much higher (P<0.05). No statistical significant difference was found in immune index between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). Differences of CD3(+) and CD4(+) before and after intervention were both statistically significant (P<0.05), so did free cortisol level (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive psychological intervention can effectively relieve pain, improve immune functions and enhance quality of life for patients suffering from lung cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Xinying Zhao, Binzhou People's Hospital, Shandong 256610, China.
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Limin Cui, Binzhou People's Hospital, Shandong 256610, China.
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Wei Wang, Binzhou People's Hospital, Shandong 256610, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Quanzhi Su, Binzhou People's Hospital, Shandong 256610, China.
authors.forename: Quanzhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Xiuzhi Li, Binzhou People's Hospital, Shandong 256610, China.
authors.forename: Xiuzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Junben Wu, Binzhou People's Hospital, Shandong 256610, China.
authors.forename: Junben
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: Immune function; Lung cancer; Psychological intervention; Visual analog scale