Objective:To explore effects of intervention based on story theory on self-management behavior and emotional state of patients with rectal cancer undergoing anus-preserving surgery.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 80 patients with rectal cancer who underwent anus preserving surgery in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January to September 2019 were selected as the research objects. The patients were randomly divided into 42 cases in the control group and 38 cases in the observation group. The patients in the control group adopted perioperative routine nursing methods for patients with rectal cancer, while patients in the observation group adopted an intervention program based on story theory at basis of the control group. Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF) and Bowel Symptoms Self-Management Behaviors Questionnaire For Rectal Cancer Patients After Anus Preservation were used for evaluation.Results:In the end, the control group recovered 40 valid questionnaires and the observation group recovered 38 valid questionnaires. After intervention, scores of all dimensions of POMS-SF of the two groups were compared and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . In the observation group, scores of dimensions of stress-anxiety, depression-depression, anger-hostility, fatigue-dullness and bewilderment-disorder were lower than those of the control group, and the score of energy-vitality was higher than that of the control group. After intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in the score of treatment management dimension in Bowel Symptoms Self-Management Behaviors Questionnaire For Rectal Cancer Patients After Anus Preservation between the two groups ( P>0.05) . The scores of diet management, perianal skin management, seeking help from others and self-emotional adjustment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Intervention based on story theory can effectively improve the emotional state of patients with rectal cancer undergoing anus-preserving surgery and improve dietary management, perianal skin management, seeking others' help and self-emotional regulation behaviors in patients' intestinal self-management behaviors, which has good clinical application values.