The Effect of a Nurse Navigation Program Based on Supportive Care Needs on Anxiety, Depression, Adaptation to Disease, and Quality of Life in Patients Diagnosed With Lung Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: A nurse navigation program can support individual patients' unsupported care needs and improve patient outcomes. This study, a nurse navigation program (LungCaNN) was developed to address the supportive care needs of patients newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the LungCaNN program on patients' anxiety and depression levels, disease adaptation, and quality of life. Additionally, secondary outcome, the study investigates the impact of the program on emergency department admission rates. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a university hospital in Antalya, Turkey. Patients were randomly assigned to intervention (LungCaNN) (n = 42) and control (n = 42) groups. To support patients their individual needs, a 12-week nurse navigation program was implemented by the nurse navigator through regular telephone calls and monthly face-to-face sessions. The 42 patients in the control group received routine care. Data collected using standardized instruments, including DASS-21, Adaptation to Chronic Illness Scale, and EORTC QLQ-C30/LC-13. RESULTS: In both groups, the majority of patients were male, aged between 61 and 70 years, married, unemployed, and had a low income level. It was found that the LungCaNN intervention group had significantly lower average scores for depression and stress higher average scores for physical adaptation, social adaptation psychological adaptation and overall quality of life compared to the control group, with the differences between the groups being statistically significant. Additionally, secondary outcome, the rate of emergency department visits was found to be lower in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: LungCaNN was found to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety levels, and improve chronic disease adaptation and overall quality of life in newly diagnosed NSCLC patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Expanding nurse navigation programs with structured assessment algorithms and ensuring their integration into oncology units are essential for broader and sustained impact.