In the hands of formal caregivers: older patients' expereinces of care across the perioperative period for hip and knee replacements

• Summary Total joint replacements of the hip or knee have become standard surgicalprocedures and lately more focus has been placed on the patient’s perspective.Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of care from all formalcarers before, during, and after joint replacement surgery of the hip or knee. Study design: A qualitative longitudinal design was chosen to capture thepatients’ experiences from the time they were placed on the waiting list untilone year after the operation. Analysis revealed that, initially, the operation itselfwas regarded as the key for reaching the goal of independence in every-day life.Patients became aware that all care related to the operation was essential. Themeaning of care from formal carers appeared to be: wanting to be ‘in safe hands’with competent formal carers across the entire perioperative period for thereplacement surgery. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that for a good outcome care characterized bycontinuous guidance from formal carers with expert knowledge of care and jointreplacement surgery (competent) was necessary for patients to feel that they were‘in safe hands’ across the perioperative period. This requires organisation of carethat can offer guidance across the perioperative period.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Caring sciences

Vårdvetenskap

Health and Caring Sciences

Hälsovetenskap

Vårdvetenskap

Caring Science

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)