RESUMO
Objective To explore how to promote the early medical consultation of patients with advanced esophageal cancer to improve the curative rate and the survival rate. Methods With the phenomenological research method, 12 patients with advanced esophageal cancer were sampled for the research. The semi-structure interview method was conducted to collect the data for analyses. Result There were 6 factors influencing the early consultation from the patients with advanced esophageal cancer in their early medical treatment, which included 6 items: lack of knowledge of the disease, economic burden, ignorance of early symptoms, lower medical level, heavy psychological burden of the disease, ageing and delay in seeking medical care. Conclusions The promotion of early medical treatment to the patients with esophageal carcinoma is in critically emergency. The measures including reducing economic burden, corresponding nursing care and health education can improve the cure rate and life quality.