Development and Application of a Nurse-Led Preemptive Symptom Management Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients had pathologically confirmed malignant head and neck tumors without distant metastasis. 2. Patient age ≥18 years; Patients were scheduled to undergo either postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or radical radiotherapy, with or without concurrent chemotherapy. 3. Baseline ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) score 0-2; 4. Good cognitive and reading skills, able to complete the questionnaire survey. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of other malignant tumors aside from head and neck malignancies; 2. A history of prior head and neck radiotherapy; 3. Mental illness or cognitive impairments; 4. Uncontrolled systemic diseases that could significantly affect their QoL.