ABSTRACT
Objective To understand caregivers concerning on the nutritional status of patients with esophageal cancer after operation and to provide reference for esophageal cancer patients with postoperative rehabilitation guidance, to help nurses providing targeted health education for esophageal cancer patients. Methods A phenomenological approach was used to conduct unstructured interviews with 8 caregivers of patients with esophageal cancer in the cancer hospital.Data Data were analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological procedure. Results Through reading, analysis, reflection, classification and extraction,there were 3 themes: lacking of esophageal cancer related nutrition knowledge, but the belief of active acquisition is strong and behavior compliance is poor. Caregivers are positive about dietary nutrition;Caregivers have poor compliance and professionalism on behavior of dietetic care. Conclusions Doctors and nurses need to carry out elaborate diet instruction for caregivers of patients with esophageal cancer, to meet their nutritional knowledge needs, to provide a variety of effective and authoritative counseling channels, and to supervise their care behavior and promote patients rehabilitation as soon as possible.