Objective:

To identify latent classes of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in patients with primary liver cancer and examine the mediating roles of perceived social support and self-efficacy between different classes and post-traumatic growth (PTG), highlighting the importance of understanding these classes for targeted interventions.

Key Findings:

• Three latent profiles of FCR identified: low fear–psychologically well-adapted group (29.32%), high fear–social functioning concerns group (35.50%), and moderate-to-high fear–treatment concerns group (35.18%). These findings suggest the need for tailored clinical approaches.
• Type of medical insurance, presence of comorbidities, and occupational status were predictors of different latent classes of FCR (P < 0.05).
• Significant differences in perceived social support, self-efficacy, and PTG scores among patients with different latent FCR profiles.
• Mediation analysis indicated significant relative mediation effects for both high fear groups compared to the low fear group.

Interpretation:

Fear of cancer recurrence shows significant heterogeneity among individuals with primary liver cancer, impacting their psychological adaptation and growth, necessitating personalized support strategies.

Limitations:

• The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences and the ability to track changes over time.
• Convenience sampling may affect the generalizability of the findings, as it may not represent the broader population of liver cancer patients.

Conclusion:

Clinicians should implement targeted interventions for patients with different FCR profiles, such as enhancing social support and self-efficacy, to mitigate its negative impact and promote psychological growth.