Impact of psychological nursing on anxiety, depression, wound healing, and satisfaction in patients with superficial basal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a common skin cancer for which surgical treatment is currently the primary clinical approach. However, due to the large surgical incision, noticeable scarring can easily occur postoperatively, affecting the patient’s facial aesthetics. As such, providing appropriate nursing support during the perioperative period is essential. AIM To investigate the impact of psychological nursing on anxiety, depression, wound healing rates, and satisfaction in patients with superficial BCC. METHODS Clinical data from 87 patients with superficial facial BCC, who were treated at the Central Hospital of Enshi Prefecture Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture between February 2023 and February 2025, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to nursing method: Control (routine nursing, n = 42); and intervention (psychological in addition to routine nursing, n = 45). Anxiety and depression symptoms, wound healing rate, pain level, postoperative complications, quality of life, and satisfaction with nursing were compared between the groups. RESULTS After the nursing intervention, the study group exhibited significantly lower Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale scores than the control group (P < 0.05). The wound healing rate in the intervention group (91.11%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (80.95%) (P < 0.05), and the visual analog scale score was lower in the intervention group (P < 0.05). The total incidence of complications in the intervention group (6.67%) was lower than that in the control group (19.05%) (P < 0.05). Postoperative quality of life and satisfaction with nursing were higher in the intervention group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Psychological nursing intervention(s) effectively alleviated negative emotions, promoted wound healing, reduced pain, improved satisfaction, and reduced postoperative complications in patients with superficial facial BCC.