Developing Nurses’ Performance Guidelines for Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy

Abstract

Rectal cancer is one of one-third of all colorectal cancers and representing the cancer with the second highest incidence and the second cause of cancer death in the western society. It is treatable and curable if caught early. However, untreated rectal cancer can grow through the intestinal wall and spread to other parts of the body through the blood vessel or lymphatic system, such as to the liver and lungs, and become terminal (Glynne-Jones et al., 2017). Nurses’ performance guidelines can effectively reduce postoperative complications in patients with rectal cancer, within which evidence-based nursing (EBN) is a type of nursing model that has emerged in recent years with the main purpose of using the latest, best, and well-founded scientific theories to provide care for patients (Guo et al., 2020). Aim of this study: The present study aimed at developing nurses` performance guidelines for patient with rectal cancer undergoing radiotherapy. This aim was achieved through the following: • Assessing knowledge and practices of nurses caring for patients with rectal cancer undergoing radiotherapy.