ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of health education pathway intervention on self-care agency and health lifestyle promotion in colostomy patients. MethodsEighty-eight rectal cancer patients who had undergone colostomy were randomly divided into control group and intervention group (with 44 patients in each) between March 2012 and September 2013. The control group received conventional nursing only, while the intervention group were given health education pathway intervention besides conventional nursing. The self-care agency and health lifestyle promotion in the two groups under pre-colostomy state, one week after colostomy and two weeks after colostomy were surveyed and compared based on the exercise of self-care agency scale and the health promotion lifestyle profile. ResultsAfter health education pathway intervention, the scores of self-care agency and health lifestyle promotion in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the hospitalization expenditure was also obviously lower. Furthermore, the satisfaction degree on nursing service was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe health education pathway intervention can greatly improve self-care agency and quality of life in rectal cancer patients who have undergone colostomy.