Objective To explore the intervention effects of the 5A nursing pathway based on self-management on dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients with radiotherapy.

Methods Sixty patients with head and neck cancer who received inpatient radiotherapy were selected as the research subjects, and randomly divided into the control group and observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group received routine radiotherapy care for head and neck tumors, while the observation group were nursed with the 5A nursing pathway based on self-management on the basis of the control group, and preventive swallowing function training. The modified Wada Water Test (MWST) classification, Chinese version of the Cancer Patient Self-management Efficacy (C-SUPPH) score and Chinese version of the Anderson dysphagia (C-MDADI) score between two groups were compared

Results The swallowing function classification of the observation group at the end of radiotherapy was better than that of control group (P ＜ 0.05). Before the intervention, There was no statistical significance in the C-SUPPH score and C-MDADI score between two groups (P ＞ 0.05). After the intervention, the C-SUPPH score and C-MDADI score in the observation group were significantly higher than those of control group (P ＜ 0.01).

Conclusions Implementing a 5A nursing pathway based on self-management for radiotherapy patients with head and neck cancer and conducting preventive swallowing function training can effectively improve their swallowing function, enhance their self-management ability, and improve their quality of life.