Analysis of the Current Status of Perceived Stress and Factors Associated with It in Patients with Chronic Wounds: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess perceived stress levels in patients with chronic wounds and examine the associations between perceived stress and demographic factors, clinical characteristics, wound healing status, social support, and coping styles.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from December 2023 to August 2024 at the Wound Care Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 292 patients with chronic wounds who received standardized wound treatment. Data were collected using the general information questionnaire, Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Statistical analysis utilized Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression to identify factors associated with perceived stress.

Results: The mean perceived stress score among the 292 participants was 34.98±7.03, with 78.8% reporting clinically significant stress (score>28). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between perceived stress and marital status, comorbid chronic diseases, and wound healing status in patients with chronic wounds. Patients who were married, had multiple chronic diseases, or exhibited poor wound healing tended to have higher perceived stress. Conversely, social support and positive coping maintained inverse relationships with perceived stress, suggesting that patients with strong social support and positive coping style experienced lower stress levels. Together, these factors accounted for 42.7% of the variance in perceived stress.

Conclusion: Chronic wound patients commonly exhibit moderate-to-high levels of perceived stress. Healthcare providers should systematically assess patients' perceived stress levels and implement individualized interventions, including enhancing social support networks and teaching positive coping strategies, to alleviate perceived stress and ultimately improve wound healing outcomes.