Latent profiles and associated factors of readiness for hospital discharge among patients undergoing orthognathic surgery: a cross-sectional study

Objective This study aims to identify the latent profiles of readiness for hospital discharge among patients with orthognathic conditions and to explore associated factors, thereby providing a basis for developing targeted discharge-preparation nursing interventions in clinical practice. Methods Using convenience sampling, this study recruited patients undergoing orthognathic surgery who were admitted to a tertiary stomatological hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, between March and September 2025. Data were collected using a General Information Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale, and the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale. Latent profile analysis was conducted using the three RHDS dimension mean scores as nonredundant indicators. Univariate analyses, multiplicity-adjusted post-hoc comparisons, and multivariable multinomial logistic regression with sensitivity analyses were used to examine factors associated with assigned profile membership. Results The median RHDS mean score was 7.50 (5.98, 8.25). Latent profile analysis identified three distinct profiles after reordering the Mplus classes for interpretability: low readiness-comprehensively weak ( n = 103, 25.0%), moderate readiness-support advantage ( n = 141, 34.2%), and high readiness-adaptation leading ( n = 168, 40.8%). Quality of discharge teaching, quality of life, living status, household income, educational attainment, and type of surgery were associated with profile membership in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion Readiness for hospital discharge among orthognathic patients was moderate and heterogeneous. These findings suggest that profile-informed discharge assessment may help identify patients who need additional support; however, longitudinal and interventional studies are required to determine whether profile-based discharge-preparation strategies improve post-discharge outcomes.