To explore the mutual influence of stigma of ¹²⁵I implantation patients and their caregivers on their quality of life,and to provide a basis for the formulation of targeted nursing intervention strategies.

Using convenience sampling,80 pairs of patients undergoing ¹²⁵I seed implantation and their primary caregivers admitted to Jiangyin People's Hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 were selected as the research subjects. The Social Impact Scale (SIS) was used to assess the patients'stigma,the Associated Stigma Scale (ASS) to assess the caregivers'stigma,and the Short Form 12 (SF-12) to evaluate the quality of life of both groups.Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to test the correlation between variables,and the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was established.The actor and partner effects were quantified through path analysis of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.

The score of stigma in patients after ¹²⁵I particle implantation (58.95 ± 12.38) was higher than that of caregivers (46.38 ± 7.93). The total scores of physical and psychological quality of life in patients (42.94 ± 10.33) and caregivers (49.15 ± 9.49) were lower, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (stigma: t=8.578, physical quality of life: t=-3.962, psychological quality of life: t=-5.555, all P<0.001). The stigma of patients was negatively correlated with their own physical quality of life (r=-0.733, P<0.001) and psychological quality of life (r=-0.660, P<0.001). The stigma of caregivers was also negatively correlated with their own physical quality of life (r=-0.563, P<0.001) and psychological quality of life (r=-0.448, P<0.001). The main effect: The stigma of patients (β=-0.808) and caregivers (β=-0.947) significantly negatively predicted their own physical health. The object effect: The stigma of caregivers had a significant negative predictive effect on the mental health of patients (β=-0.808, P<0.05), but the stigma of patients had no significant effect on the quality of life of caregivers (β=0.397, P=0.273; β=-0.655, P=0.092).

The stigma of patients undergoing ¹²⁵I seed implantation and their caregivers is at a relatively high level, with patients having a higher degree of stigma than their caregivers. Stigma affects the quality of life of patients and caregivers through the " actor-partner " dual path. Patients and caregivers should be regarded as a whole, and the overall quality of life of both should be improved by reducing stigma.