Objective  To explore the optimization effect of the nursing pathway driven by the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on postoperative rehabilitation in patients with senile cataract.

Methods  A total of 100 patients with senile cataract were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into control group and study group using the random number table method, with 50 cases in each group. The control group received routine nursing care, while the study group received TPB-driven nursing pathway intervention in addition to routine care. The postoperative recovery status, hospitalization expenses, visual qualityVisual Function Index Questionnaire (VF-14) score, self-care abilityExercise of Self-care Agency Scale (ESCA) score, postoperative complications, and behavioral change intention were compared between the two groups.

Results  The postoperative visual acuity in the study group was higher, while the intraocular pressure and hospitalization expenses were lower than that in the control group. The visual acuity recovery time and hospitalization duration were shorter in the study group than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the VF-14 score and ESCA score in the study group were higher than those in the control group; the overall incidence of postoperative complications in the study group was 4.00%, which was lower than 16.00% in the control group; the scores of each dimension of behavioral change intention after the intervention in the study group were higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).

Conclusion  The TPB-driven nursing pathway can effectively optimize the postoperative rehabilitation effect in patients with senile cataract, improve their postoperative visual acuity, visual quality, and self-care ability, thereby enhancing the quality of rehabilitation.