The Application of Concept Map Thinking Combined with Kolcaba's Comfort Nursing in the Perioperative Care of Patients Undergoing Nasal Deformity Correction.

Abstract

Aims/Background By addressing patients' physical, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental comfort needs holistically, Kolcaba's Comfort Theory raises the standard of care and increases patient satisfaction. This study explored the combined application of these nursing models during the perioperative period for patients undergoing nasal deformity correction surgery. Methods 92 patients undergoing nasal deformity correction at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were randomly divided into two groups: the conventional group (46 patients), which received standard perioperative nursing care, and the experimental group (46 patients), which received concept map thinking nursing combined with Kolcaba's comfort nursing intervention during the perioperative period. Clinical indicators, including the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) and General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ), were compared between the two groups at multiple time points. Results The experimental group demonstrated significantly shorter operation times (p < 0.001), faster recovery of nasal breathing (p = 0.002), and shorter hospital stays (p < 0.001) compared to the conventional group. Additionally, the experimental group experienced less intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001) and a lower incidence of complications (p = 0.013). At 2 days, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery, both groups showed decreases in SAS, SDS, and PSQI scores, with the experimental group demonstrating significantly lower scores (p < 0.05). At these same time points, the ROE and GCQ scores increased in both groups, with the experimental group achieving significantly higher scores than the conventional group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The integration of concept map thinking with Kolcaba's comfort nursing significantly improves the postoperative recovery of patients undergoing nasal deformity correction. Reduced surgical trauma, enhanced psychological health, better sleep, increased comfort, and quicker nasal function recovery are all results of this method. Clinical Trial Registration China Clinical Trial Registration Center (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=191278).