Experiences of Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgery in Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of patients undergoing emergency surgery during the Covid-19 pandemic. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 patients. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA 20 software, and the descriptive and relational analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. Three themes were defined in the study: (a) Categories of the theme of corporate obligation: Corporate protective precautions, Covid-19 related training, individual protective precautions, and preoperative preparation; (b) Categories of the theme of challenging dilemma related to surgery: psychological factors and the difficulties of surgery in the pandemic; and (c) Categories of the theme of development of professional values: Communication with health workers, support, professionalism, and patient–institute trust relationship. We determined in the study that participants had positive and negative deep experiences. In the relational analysis, participants expressed opinions about trust in hospital staff and health workers, as well as about professionalism, environmental hygiene, physical distance, and mask necessity. The results of this study could help nurses identify the needs of patients undergoing emergency surgery during the Covid-19 pandemic, including informing and training about the surgery and discharge process, healthy communication, and psychological support.