Comprehensive Nursing Intervention for Managing Pain, Anxiety, and Malnutrition among Elderly Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Authors

  • Zeinab Shaker Abdullah Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
  • Nermeen Mahmoud Abdel- Aziz Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
  • Ahmed Farooq Al Sayed Department of Tropical Medicine and gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
  • Saieda Abd Elhamed Abdelaziz Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2026.v17i04.004

Abstract

Background: Liver Cirrhosis is a Chronic, progressive, and irreversible disease caused by vascular and hepatocellular injury. Comprehensive nursing intervention standardizes nursing responsibilities through an organized management system and may help improve pain, anxiety, and malnutrition in elderly patients. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on managing pain, anxiety and malnutrition in elderly patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: Quasi-experimental research design was utilized. The study was conducted at the inpatient clinics of Al-Rajhy Liver Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt. A Purposive sample of 100 elderly patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis was selected. divided equally into an intervention group 50 and a control group 50. Four tools were used: Tool I: Structured interview sheet. Tool II: visual analog scales. Tool III: - geriatric anxiety scale. Tool IV: mini nutritional assessment. Results: Findings revealed statistically significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control group. Patients who received the comprehensive nursing intervention showed reduced levels of pain (p = 0.001), and anxiety scores were lower in the study group among participants who received visits (p = 0.009), as assessed by the visual analog scale and the geriatric anxiety scale, respectively. Additionally, nutritional status improved significantly (p < 0.05 for all variables). Conclusion: Comprehensive nursing interventions significantly enhance pain, anxiety, and improve nutritional status among elderly patients with liver cirrhosis. Incorporating these interventions into routine liver care is essential.

Keywords:

Comprehensive Nursing Intervention;, Elderly;, Liver Cirrhosis

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References

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Published

02-04-2026

How to Cite

Shaker Abdullah, Z. ., Mahmoud Abdel- Aziz, N. ., Farooq Al Sayed, A. ., & Elhamed Abdelaziz, S. A. . (2026). Comprehensive Nursing Intervention for Managing Pain, Anxiety, and Malnutrition among Elderly Patients with Liver Cirrhosis. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN), 17(4), 33-46. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2026.v17i04.004

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