ObjectiveTo investigate the reliability and validity of Short-Form 36 Health Survey Scale (SF-36) for evaluating quality of life (QOL) of thoracic surgery patients in a specific regional medical center,and improve care and nursing plan for these patients. MethodsNinety-five patients who were admitted in Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital from March to May 2012 were enrolled in this study. Ninety-four patients finished a valid questionnaire study including 68 male and 26 female patients with their average age of 62.0±13.0 years. Preoperative diagnosis was squamous cell lung cancer in 8 patients,lung adenocarcinoma in 6 patients,small cell lung cancer in 1 patient,esophageal cancer in 12 patients and undefined lung mass in 67 patients. Postoperative diagnosis was squamous cell lung cancer in 39 patients, lung adenocarcinoma in 28 patients,small cell lung cancer in 8 patients,esophageal cancer in 12 patients,pulmonary tuberculosis in 3 patients and inflammatory pseudo-tumor in 4 patients. Chinese edition of SF-36 was used to evaluate patients' QOL. Cronbach's coefficients (α) and split-half reliability were used to assess its reliability. Its validity was assessed through factor analysis. ResultsCronbach's coefficients (α) of SF-36 were as followed:Physical Functioning (PF) 0.721,Role-Physical (RP) 0.859,General Health (GH) 0.721,Vitality (VT) 0.899,Social Functioning (SF) 0.852,Role-Emotional (RE) 0.872,and Mental Health (MH) 0.598. Split-half reliability of each part was PF 0.725,RP 0.784,GH 0.758,VT 0.749,SF 0.745,RE 0.740,and MH 0.426. Nine principal components were extracted by factor analysis and generally reflected the 8 dimensions of SF-36,which was correspondent to the SF-36 structure. ConclusionSF-36 scale can be used to measure QOL of thoracic surgery patients with good reliability and validity.
ObjectiveTo compare clinical results between single and double chest tube applications after lung cancer resection, and explore the role of single chest tube in postoperative fast track recovery. MethodNinety-three patients with lung cancer who underwent lobectomy between March and December of 2009 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were included in this study. All the patients were divided into a single-tube group including 46 patients (39 males and 7 females) with their age of 58.4±9.5 years, and a double-tube group including 47 patients (32 males and 15 females) with their age of 58.2±9.0 years. Drainage amount, duration, postoperative hospital stay, and incidences of pneumothorax and pleural effusion after removal of chest tubes were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsThe percentage of patients undergoing complete video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) of the double-tube group was significantly higher than that of the single-tube group, and the percentage of patients undergoing thoracotomy of the double-tube group was significantly lower than that of the single-tube group (P < 0.05). Drainage amount of the double-tube group was significantly larger than that of the single-tube group (824.4±612.5 ml vs. 510.7±406.7 ml, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay, the incidences of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pleural effusion or re-insertion of chest drain between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionClinical results of single chest tube is better than or equivalent to those of double chest tubes after lung cancer resection, and drainage duration of single chest tube application might be shorter.