Lived experience, enhanced recovery and laparoscopic colonic resection

Fecher-Jones, Imogen and Taylor, Claire (2015) Lived experience, enhanced recovery and laparoscopic colonic resection. British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing), 24 (4), 223-228. (doi:10.12968/bjon.2015.24.4.223).

Abstract

Aim: to explore patients' lived experience of undergoing laparoscopic colonic resection on an enhanced recovery programme.

Method: eleven patients were interviewed at home, between 14 and 16 days following discharge. The transcribed interview texts were interpreted with a hermeneutical-phenomenological method.

Findings: participants were keen to achieve their goals and participate actively in the enhanced recovery programme. They strived to return to full health as soon as possible after surgery, but all participants indicated that it was taking longer than they had expected. As they became more independent regarding their self-care needs during their hospital stay, participants noticed that the nursing presence became more distant, which could result in unmet psychological needs. Their recovery at home was perceived to be taking longer than it should and was often prolonged by symptoms. The minimally invasive approach associated with laparoscopic surgery led the participants to expect a lesser physical and psychological effect from this major surgery.

Conclusion: nurses need to acknowledge and attend not only to the physical but also to the emotional needs of patients on an enhanced recovery programme, right up until the point of discharge. Nurses also need to prepare patients more fully for what to expect after discharge.

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Contributors

Author: Imogen Fecher-Jones

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