Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between psychological distress and self-care efficacy in patients with gastroin-testinal tumors. Methods A total of 225 patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal tumors in our hospital were selected. Distress thermometer, hospital anxiety and depression scale and health promotion strategy scale were used to evaluate patients' psychological pain, anxiety and depression and self-care efficacy，Pearson correlation and structural equation model were used to analyze their correlation. Results The average score of psychological distress was（3.15±2.51） in 225 patients with gastrointestinal tumor，of 131 patients （58.22%） suffered psychological distress. The average score of anxiety was （6.02±3.97），of which 172 patients（76.44%） were showing anxiety. The average score of depression was （5.34±4.14）， of which 182 patients （80.89%） were depressed. The total score of self-care efficacy was（94.36±23.63）， and psychological distress，anxiety and depression were negatively correlated with self-care efficacy，self-decompression，self-decision-making and positive attitude （P<0.01）. The structural equation model analysis showed that psychological distress had a direct effect on self-care efficacy， and the standardized path coefficient was -0.186 （standard error=0.093，P=0.002）. Conclusion The incidence of psychological distress，anxiety and depression is higher in patients with gastrointestinal tumors，and the more serious the psychological distress，anxiety and depression，the worse the self-management efficacy.

Key words: Gastrointestinal cancer, Psychological distress, Self-care efficacy, Structural equation model