To investigate the factors associated with readiness for hospital discharge among patients undergoing transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted involving 110 patients who underwent TAPP inguinal hernia repair at Rugao People's Hospital between June 2024 and June 2025. Data on patient demographics, disease- and surgery-related characteristics, and postoperative recovery were collected. Readiness for hospital discharge was assessed using the Chinese version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS). RHDS scores were compared among patients with different clinical and demographic characteristics, and independent factors associated with discharge readiness were identified.

The mean RHDS score among the 110 patients was (89.23±20.28). Univariate analysis showed that patients aged >70 years, those residing in rural areas, unmarried patients, self-paying patients, those whose primary caregivers were non-family members or who had no primary caregiver, those living alone, those who underwent open surgery, those with direct or combined inguinal hernias, those with chronic comorbidities, those experiencing postoperative local edema or urinary retention, those with a postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain score ≥4, and those reporting a perceived decline in self-care ability had significantly lower RHDS scores (all P<0.05). Multivariable analysis identified age >70 years (β=−18.502, 95% CI −24.425 to −12.613), rural residence (β=−6.054, 95% CI −10.534 to −1.642), unmarried status (β=−12.106, 95% CI −18.449 to −5.821), and moderate-to-severe postoperative pain (β=−15.204, 95% CI −23.815 to −6.601) as independent factors associated with lower RHDS scores.

Readiness for hospital discharge after TAPP inguinal hernia repair is associated with multiple factors, particularly advanced age, rural residence, unmarried status, and moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. Greater attention should be given to patients with these characteristics, with an emphasis on optimizing perioperative pain management and providing individualized discharge education to improve discharge readiness.