Experiences and Fundamental Care Needs in Patients With Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumours-An Interview Study in a Surgical Context.
Frida Olsson, Eva Jangland, Katarina Edfeldt
PMID 39258833WHAT IT FOUND
Patients recovering from small intestinal tumour surgery described nursing care as competent but task-focused.
They reported significant gaps in information about their surgical outcome, self-care limits, and who to contact after discharge, leading to complications. Loneliness and existential anxiety were prominent, especially when relatives were barred by pandemic restrictions.
Key findings
01No patient received complete information about self-care upon discharge or transfer, and deficiencies in this information directly led to complications such as hernia and severe obstipation.
02While most patients felt safe and cared for, many experienced loneliness and existential anxiety, particularly when isolated in single rooms or unable to share concerns with relatives due to pandemic restrictions.
03Patients frequently lacked information about the day's plan and their surgical outcome, with some reading their own electronic records to find out what had happened.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted visitor access and may have heightened patients' feelings of loneliness and anxiety beyond typical levels. Interviews took place up to 9 months after surgery, so recall of specific care experiences may have been incomplete. The sample was small (19 patients) and from a single specialised centre, limiting generalisability to other surgical contexts. Telephone interviews were used instead of face-to-face, which may have affected the depth of data collected.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the generally positive reports of nursing competence as evidence that care was fully person-centred. The study highlights that technical safety and emotional support were often disconnected, with significant failures in information transfer leading to patient harm.