Impact of a standardized quality care model on anxiety in patients retained in the emergency department: A retrospective study

Anxiety is common in emergency department (ED) patients, affecting physiological stability, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. Standardized quality care models may alleviate these effects, but further validation is needed. This study evaluates the impact of a standardized quality care model on anxiety, physiological parameters, and quality of life in ED patients. This retrospective cohort study included 205 ED patients treated between January 2021 and December 2023, selected using consecutive sampling. Patients were categorized into the standardized quality care group (n = 95) or the routine care group (n = 110) based on prior nursing care. Anxiety and depression were assessed using SAS, HAMA, GAD-7, and self-depression scale (SDS), and psychological distress with SCL-90. Quality of life was measured using social functioning (SF)-36v2, while physiological indicators (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation), patient satisfaction, and medical compliance were recorded. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0, with independent sample t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables and chi-square (χ²) tests for categorical variables (P < .05 considered significant). The standardized care group had significantly lower anxiety (SAS, HAMA, GAD-7) and depression (SDS) scores than the routine care group (P < .05). Moderate to severe psychological distress (SCL-90) was also lower (P = .015). Physiological indicators, including heart rate (P = .012), systolic blood pressure (P = .03), diastolic blood pressure (P = .03), and oxygen saturation (P = .03), improved significantly. At the 1-month follow-up, SF-36v2 scores, including physical component summary and mental component summary, were significantly higher in the standardized care group (P < .05). Patient satisfaction (χ² = 13.28, P = .004) and medical compliance (χ² = 6.01, P = .049) were also improved. The standardized quality care model effectively reduces anxiety and depression, enhances physiological stability, and improves quality of life, patient satisfaction, and treatment adherence in ED patients. These findings support integrating structured nursing interventions into ED care. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate long-term benefits and explore technology-driven enhancements.