title: Psychological and behavioral intervention improves the quality of life and mental health of patients suffering from differentiated thyroid cancer treated with postoperative radioactive iodine-131.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the effects of psychological and behavioral intervention on health-related quality of life and mental health among patients suffering from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treated with postoperative radioactive iodine-131 (RAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with DTC, undergoing RAI, were randomly assigned to receive either conventional nursing (n=30) or a 1-year psychological and behavioral intervention based on conventional nursing (n=30). Health-related quality of life and mental health issues, depression, and anxiety were measured using the Quality of Life Core Questionnaire, Self-rating Depression Scale, and Self-rating Anxiety Score, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After RAI treatment, patients in both groups showed improved functional capacities (ie, physical, role, cognitive, emotional, and social) and global quality of life, along with reduced depression and anxiety (P<0.05). At 1-year follow-up, compared with patients in the routine nursing group, those in the psychological and behavioral intervention group demonstrated greater improvements in functional capacities, global quality of life, and depression and anxiety symptoms (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological and behavioral interventions for patients with DTC undergoing RAI facilitated positive outcomes, suggesting that nursing care models that include psychological and behavioral interventions may be a complementary strategy for this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cui-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: anxiety; depression; differentiated thyroid cancer; health-related quality of life; psychological and behavioral intervention; radioactive iodine-131 treatment