Latent Profile Analysis of Post-Surgical Psychological Distress in Young Thyroid Cancer Patients and Its Association with Self-Management Efficacy.

Purpose: Psychological distress (PD) is one of the most prevalent psychological challenges among young patients with thyroid cancer. Recognizing the symptoms of psychological distress among young cancers at different stages is essential for improving their quality of life. This study aims to identify distinct profiles of psychological distress in young thyroid cancer patients post-surgery and assess differences in self-management efficacy across these profiles.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in one general hospital in Chongqing, China. Participants completed the data collection on sociodemographic information, the specific Cancer Distress Scales for Adolescents and Young Adults (CDS-AYA), and the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH). Latent profile analysis was utilized to classify psychological distress into distinct subgroups, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to examine differences in self-management efficacy across these subgroups.

Results: A total of 213 valid questionnaires were collected. Ultimately, three distinct profiles of psychological distress were identified: "low PD group" (67.1%), "moderate PD group" (25.8%), and "high PD group" (7.1%). Statistically significant differences were observed among these groups with respect to monthly economic income, underlying diseases, treatment modalities, tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging, and cervical lymph node dissection (F = 36.308, P < 0.001). Additionally, there were statistically significant variations in self-management efficacy scores across the three subgroups.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals ought to implement targeted interventions to tackle the heterogeneity of psychological distress, thereby assisting young with thyroid cancer in lowering their level of psychological distress and enhancing their ability to self-manage their disease.