The Effect of Comfort Nursing in Operating Room on Anxiety Depression and Postoperative Recovery in Thyroidectomy Patients With Coexisting Sleep Disorders

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of comfort nursing in the operating room on anxiety, depression and postoperative recovery in thyroidectomy patients with sleep disorders.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 156 propensity-score-matched patients undergoing thyroidectomy at Taizhou Second People’s Hospital (January 2023– September 2025). The patients were assigned to conventional care (n = 78) or comfort nursing (n = 78). Outcomes included Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), polysomnography (PSG), Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), thyroid cancer-specific quality of life (THYCA-QoL), recovery indices, complications and satisfaction.

Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant time, group and interaction effects for HADS-A, HADS-D and PSQI scores (all p < 0.001). Both groups improved postoperatively, with the comfort group showing greater reductions at 5 days and 4 weeks (p < 0.05). PSG parameters (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, REM%, sleep latency and microarousals) also improved in both groups, with superior outcomes in the comfort group (p < 0.05). Comfort nursing was associated with short times to first flatus and ambulation, reduced hospital stay, low choking incidence and high normal swallowing rate at 72 hours (p < 0.05). Complication rates did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). The comfort group achieved higher QoR-15 and lower VAS scores on days 1–3 (p < 0.001) and lower THYCA-QoL anxiety, psychological and sensory scores at 4 weeks (p < 0.001). Satisfaction was higher in the comfort group (84.62% vs. 69.23%, p < 0.05). 

Conclusions: Operating room comfort nursing alleviates anxiety and depression, improves sleep architecture, promotes early recovery and enhances quality of life and satisfaction in thyroidectomy patients with sleep disorders.