A specific nursing educational program in patients with Cushing's syndrome

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Nursing Science
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Cushing's syndrome (CS) results from cortisol hypersecretion, leading to comorbidities that persist even after biochemical cure.
• Existing nursing healthcare programs for CS patients are insufficient for improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
• Educational nursing interventions are needed to address the complex needs of CS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing educational program for Cushing's syndrome patients.
• To assess the program's impact on HRQoL, clinical parameters, pain, physical activity, rest patterns, and healthcare resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized study involving 61 CS patients across two hospitals.
• Patients were divided into an intervention group (9-month educational sessions) and a control group.
• Standardized questionnaires assessed outcomes at the beginning and end of the study.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significantly better CushingQoL scores (p < 0.01).
• Participants experienced reduced pain (p < 0.05), improved physical activity (p < 0.01), and healthier lifestyles (p < 0.001).
• Positive correlations were found between CushingQoL scores and reduced pain, increased physical activity, and improved sleep.

Conclusions:

• The educational nursing program effectively enhanced physical activity, lifestyle, sleep, and reduced pain in CS patients.
• The program positively influenced HRQoL and decreased healthcare resource consumption.
• The intervention's concise nature makes it suitable for widespread clinical application in CS patient care.