Background: Long-term chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer (GC), facilitated by peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) catheterization, reduces vascular damage and enhances drug delivery efficiency but carries risks of catheter-related complications. A combination of group psychological nursing and physical movement care significantly mitigates the risk of venous thrombosis and improves psychological well-being, and enhances motor function, underscoring its clinical importance.

Aim: To assess group psychological and physical movement nursing in preventing venous thrombosis in patients with PICC GC.

Methods: Sixty-five GC patients with PICC, admitted from January 2022 to January 2023, were randomly divided into two groups using the lottery method: A control group (n = 35, routine nursing) and an observation group (n = 30, routine nursing plus psychological nursing and physical movement nursing). Both groups received continuous care for 2 weeks. Pre-nursing and post-nursing data on psychological state, physical function, chemotherapy-related thrombosis incidence, and cancer-related fatigue were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0.

Results: After nursing, both groups showed reduced Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores and increased General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale scores, with the observation group performing better (P < 0.05). The Functional Comprehensive Assessment score for the observation group after nursing was (65.42 ± 2.35) points, lower than the control group's (62.19 ± 4.33) points (P < 0.05). Although no significant difference was observed in the incidence of venous thrombosis between the two groups (χ 2 = 0.815, P = 0.367), the observation group had lower incidence. Both groups showed decreased Revised Piper Fatigue Scale scores, with the observation group scoring lower (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Group psychological and physical movement nursing for patients with PICC reduces venous thrombosis risk, improves psychological well-being, cancer-related fatigue, and physical function, making it highly promotable.

Ni WJ, Xi YX, Zhou YC. Efficacy of combined psychological and physical nursing in preventing peripherally inserted central catheter-related thrombosis in gastric cancer patients. World J Gastrointest Surg. 2025 Mar 27;17(3):100430. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i3.100430. PMID: 40162411; PMCID: PMC11948111.