Objective To investigate the effectiveness of individualized nursing in the care of patients with rectal cancer and its effects on patients’ postoperative prevention of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis

self-care ability and quality of life.Methods Eighty-three patients with rectal cancer admitted to a hospital in Liaoyang City from May 2018 to May 2020 were selected as subjects and assigned to a control group（n=41） and an observation group（n=42） using the random number table method.Patients in the control group received conventional nursing intervention

while patients in the observation group received individualized nursing intervention after the conventional nursing

and participants in both groups received continued nursing for 1 month.The incidence of postoperative venous thrombosis in the lower extremities of the patients in the two groups was compared

and the self-care ability and quality of life of the patients in the two groups were compared before and after nursing.Results The incidence of postoperative venous thrombosis in the lower extremities of patients in the observation group was lower than that in the control group（7.14% vs.29.27%）

and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）.The scores of self-care concept

self-care responsibility

self-care skills and related knowledge level of patients in both groups after nursing were higher than those before nursing

and the observation group showed higher scores than the control group

and the differences were statistically significant（P <0.05）.The physiological function

emotional state

physical quality

and social function scores of patients in the 2 groups after nursing were higher than those before nursing

and the observation group had higher scores than the control group

and the differences were statistically significant（P<0.05）.Conclusion Individualized nursing interventions for patients with rectal cancer can effectively prevent the occurrence of postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and improve patients’ self-care ability and quality of life.