Evaluation of Postoperative Psychological Distress and Its Driving Factors in Patients with Oral and Maxillofacial Malignant Tumors

Abstract

Objective: To explore and analyze the evaluation and driving factors of postoperative psychological pain inpatients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors. Methods: Relevant data were collected from 80 patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors who attended the outpatient clinic for follow-up consultations between May 2021 to May 2023. The patients used the psychological distress thermometer (DT) to circle words that best described their experiences in the past week, assigning a numerical value (0–10) to indicate their pain level on each day. The scoring results were employed to assess the psychological pain in these patients. A self-developed patient basic information questionnaire was utilized to record demographic details. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate patients two weeks after surgery, focusing on the assessment of psychological distress and the identification and location of driving factors. Results: Following evaluation, the results revealed that the average postoperative DT score for the 80 patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors was 4.53 ± 1.98 points. Scores < 4 points indicated no psychological pain (Group N) in 48 cases, while scores ≥ 4 points indicated psychological pain (Group Y) in 32 cases. The differences in postoperative DT scores among patients with varying educational levels, fears and worries about disease progression, economic problems, sleep problems, level of hope, and oral pain were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis results indicated that education level, fear and worry about disease progression, economic problems, sleep problems, level of hope, and oral pain are driving factors of postoperative psychological pain in patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The postoperative psychological pain level in patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors is at a moderate level. Educational level, fear and worry about disease progression, economic problems, sleep problems, level of hope, and oral pain were identified as driving factors for postoperative psychological pain in these patients.