Hysterectomy is the most common gynaecological surgery in the world (Barker, 2016;Hammer et al., 2015), which is an important treatment for benign gynaecological diseases such as fibroids, endometriosis and uterine prolapse (Lundholm et al., 2009;Whiteman et al., 2008). When non-operative treatment cannot solve the pain of common gynaecological benign diseases, hysterectomy to relieve symptoms and improve women's quality of life has become a possible choice (Rannestad, 2005). However, several studies have reported that patients experience varying degrees of anxiety and depression before and after hysterectomy due to multiple factors such as individual personality traits, fear of surgery, concerns about altered self-image and the strength of family support (Donoghue et al., 2003;Thornton et al., 1997;Wilson et al., 2018). Studies have also reported potentially important associations between age and disease progression and the mental health status of women undergoing hysterectomy, particularly before the age of 40 and in the case of more severe disease, which can increase the psychological burden of women (Cooper et al., 2009). Therefore, fully understanding and exploring the real experience of hysterectomy patients can promptly identify the possible psychological and spiritual needs of patients