Abstract:Objective To explore the effect of dietary guidance based on action research method on nutritional status and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors undergoing chemotherapy. Methods A total of 122 patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors undergoing chemotherapy in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected, and divided into observation group ( n=61) and control group ( n=61) according to random number table. The control group was given routine nursing, and the observation group was given dietary guidance based on action research method on the basis of the control group. The nutritional knowledge level, nutritional status, quality of life and incidence rate of adverse reactions were compared between two groups. Results After intervention, the scores of Digestive Cancer Patients Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Questionnaire (DCNKAPQ) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The levels of prealbumin and serum albumin, body mass index in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). After intervention, the incidence rate of adverse reactions of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (9.84% vs 26.23%, χ2=5.546, P<0.05). Conclusion Dietary guidance based on action research method can effectively enhance the nutritional knowledge level and nutritional status, improve the quality of life, and reduce the incidence rate of adverse reactions in patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors undergoing chemotherapy.