Objective To explore the impact of motivational nursing based on the CICARE communication model in patients with lung cancer.

Methods A total of 146 first-diagnosed patients with lung cancer were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 73 patients in each group. The control group received routine nursing, while the observation group received motivational nursing based on the CICARE communication model in addition to routine nursing. Cancer-related fatigue symptoms, psychological status, and hope levels were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention.

Results After intervention, the scores of all dimensions of the Cancer-Related Fatigue Inventory decreased in both groups, with lower scores in the observation group compared to the control group (P<0.05). After intervention, the scores of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) decreased in both groups, with lower scores in the observation group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The scores of all dimensions and the total score of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) increased in both groups after the intervention, with higher scores in the observation group compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion Motivational nursing based on the CICARE communication model can alleviate cancer-related fatigue symptoms and improve anxiety and depression, and other negative emotions in lung cancer patients compared with routine treatment and nursing.