Background In China’s cancer services, the ‘conventional nursing care’ model, which involves specialist nurses managing patient care from admission to discharge, is widely used, but the lack of involvement of other healthcare professionals means that patients’ needs, in terms of psychological support and rehabilitation, are not always met. However, China has recently started to use a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to cancer care.

Aim To compare the effects of an MDT care model with the effects of the conventional nursing care model on quality of life, psychological well-being and post-treatment complications in women undergoing treatment for cervical cancer in China.

Method A randomised controlled trial was conducted at a hospital in Jiangsu, China. Ninety patients with cervical cancer were randomised to an intervention group (n=45), who received the MDT care model, and a control group (n=45), who received the conventional nursing care model. Participants’ self-reported quality of life, self-efficacy, anxiety and depression scores were collected on admission to hospital and at follow-up three months later. Complications were assessed and recorded starting immediately after treatment until the three-month follow-up.

Results There were statistically significant differences between the intervention group and control group for all measures. Quality of life and self-efficacy scores were higher and anxiety and depression scores and number of post-treatment complications were lower in the intervention group than in the control group.

Conclusion The MDT care model was more effective than the conventional nursing care model in meeting the needs of patients treated for cervical cancer in terms of quality of life, self-efficacy, anxiety and depression levels and post-treatment complications. In China, using an MDT care model provides nurses with a learning platform to expand their knowledge and skills through collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines.