Preliminary Development of a Health Education Program to Improve Psychological Distress Among Patients with...

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer often leads to complex and long-lasting psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, in patients and their partners. This psychological distress can not only potentially worsen the poor prognosis of the disease, but also reduce health-related quality of life by affecting the patient's ability to function and enjoy life. Objectives: These preliminary data were collected to identify the components required for the development of a health education program pertaining to improving psychological distress. Methods: A narrative review. Results: Two components, diet and physical activity, were identified as important factors for the well-being of esophageal cancer patients and their partners with psychological distress. Moreover, behavioral activation was assumed to be an effective approach for assisting esophageal cancer patients' behavioral compliance with the given dietary intake and physical activity practices program. Conclusions: A health education program based on the above components (diet and physical activity) with a behavioral activation approach could be developed as a guideline to address the problem of psychological distress among esophageal cancer patients and their partners. However, these conclusions should be treated with caution, given that the findings have not yet been empirically tested. Further rigorous studies are required to confirm their effectiveness and determine which program components may be most effective in improving outcomes.