Discharge readiness and associated factors among thyroid cancer patients under ERAS-based perioperative management: a cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate the current status of discharge readiness and its associated factors among postoperative thyroid cancer patients receiving ERAS-based perioperative management. Methods A convenience sampling method was employed to select 154 discharged patients with thyroid cancer who underwent surgery under the ERAS protocol from the department of general surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital as the research objects. They were investigated with a general information questionnaires, Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between readiness for hospital discharge, hospital anxiety and depression, and social support levels for patients. Univariate analysis was used to screen independent variables based on literature support, and multiple stepwise regression analysis was employed to identify the factors associated with patients’ RHDS. Results The total score of RHDS in patients with thyroid cancer after surgery was 95.25 ± 13.21 (mean item score: 7.94 ± 1.10). The total RHDS score was negatively correlated with the total HADS score ( r = −0.777, P < 0.01), and positively correlated with the total SSRS score ( r = 0.729, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the total score of HADS ( B = −1.077, 95% CI: −1.424 to −0.731) and SSRS ( B = 0.472, 95% CI: 0.155–0.789) were significantly associated with RHDS scores ( P < 0.05). The final regression model explained 62.6% of the variance in RHDS scores ( R 2 = 0.626, adjusted R 2 = 0.621). Conclusion Among postoperative thyroid cancer patients receiving ERAS-based perioperative management, psychological distress and social support were associated with discharge readiness. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological assessment, social support evaluation, and individualized discharge preparation into perioperative care. Tailoring discharge planning to patients’ individual needs and involving family caregivers when appropriate may help facilitate the transition from hospital to home.