Psychological care needs among hospitalized liver tumor patients: Insights from clinical profiles and comorbidity burden
Abstract
Hospitalized liver cancer patients frequently face psychological vulnerability due to disease severity, multiple comorbidities, and intensive treatment. This study analyzed clinical data from 42 patients with confirmed liver malignancy diagnoses to identify psychosocial needs implied by hospitalization patterns and clinical burden. Length of stay (LOS), comorbidity frequency, and treatment intensity were examined as indirect markers of psychological distress, as prolonged hospitalization and high comorbidity burden contribute to anxiety and emotional strain. Patients had a mean LOS of 14.02 days and a median of 15.5 days (range 2–33, SD 8.09), with an average of nearly seven concurrent diagnoses, including cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, ascites, hypoproteinemia, and postoperative or treatment-related complications. These factors reflect elevated physical burden and functional impairment, recognized contributors to anxiety, uncertainty, depressive symptoms, and emotional exhaustion in psycho-oncology literature. Extended hospitalization further amplifies stress through loss of autonomy, sleep disruption, and financial strain. Findings emphasize the need for early psychosocial screening and structured psychological care, particularly for patients with prolonged LOS or high comorbidity burden. Clinical indicators can serve as practical triggers for distress assessment where formal psychological measures are not consistently available. Integrating psychological nurses within hepatobiliary oncology units may enhance patient support, optimize coping, and address emotional, social, and existential concerns. Despite the retrospective design and absence of direct psychological measurements, these results provide a framework for future prospective psycho-oncology research. Recognizing and addressing the psychosocial consequences of clinical complexity is essential for improving emotional well-being and delivering comprehensive liver cancer care.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dan Zhao, Jiamei Tang, Er Li
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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