Patienters uppfattning om preoperativ information

Abstract

What is the best manner of informing a person scheduled for elective surgery? The aim of this study was to investigate how patients scheduled for elective surgery perceive the written information received at home three to four weeks before surgery. Data was collected on a hospital ward in the south of Sweden and 19 patients were interviewed. The method of data collection was semistructured interviews supported by an interview guide. The interviews were analysed with content analysis. The conclusion of this study indicates that the need for information is individual and depends on factors such as previous patient experience, interpretation of the preparatory information and furthermore what emotions the patient has regarding the oncoming operation. The patient’s perception of control is important for how he or she experiences the preoperative phase.