From operating room to recovery: Evidence and gaps in cardiac surgical nursing integrative psychological support

This review explored the application and effectiveness of and research gaps in integrative psychological support in patients undergoing cardiac surgery during the perioperative period. These patients often encounter psychological issues such as anxiety and depression, which affect their postoperative recovery and quality of life. Previous research indicated that preoperative psychological assessments and interventions significantly enhance patients' psychological states and postoperative outcomes. Interventions, including preoperative education, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and cognitive training, have proven effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative delirium and anxiety. Intraoperative environment optimization (e.g., music therapy) and postoperative psychological support (e.g., family visits and psychological interventions in intensive care unit psychological interventions) positively influence patient recovery. Furthermore, theory-based nursing interventions and digital health tools (e.g., remote monitoring applications) offer new directions for psychological support. However, challenges, including fragmented psychological support, insufficient cross-stage integration, and inadequate training, remain in current nursing practices. Future research should focus on developing standardized psychological support pathways, enhancing multidisciplinary collaboration, and verifying the long-term effects of digital therapeutics.