Perception of surgery, caring needs and caring activities for elderly surgical patients in Songklanagarind Hospital
Praneed Songwathana, Asst. Prof., D. of Surgical Nursing, F. of Nursing, PSU.
Kanitta Naka, D. of Surgical Nursing, F. of Nursing, PSU.
Komapak Maneevat, D. of Surgical Nursing, F. of Nursing, PSU.
Orapin Naruban, RN, Surgical Ward, Songklanagarind Hospital, PSU.
Saipin Panbumrung, RN, Surgical Ward, Songklanagarind Hospital, PSU.
Nangnoi Muangkaewgnam, RN, Surgical Ward, Songklanagarind Hospital, PSU.
Pimchai Chitnarong, RN, Surgical Ward, Songklanagarind Hospital, PSU.
Pacharaporn Tassanakowit, RN, Surgical Ward, Songklanagarind Hospital, PSU.
Corresponding e-mail : spraneed@ratree.psu.ac.th
Grant : Government Budget
Published : Songklanagarind J of Nursing 2000, 20(3) : 185-210
Key words : promoting self care, elderly surgical patients, perception of surgery, caring needs,
caring activities
This descriptive study aims to describe the perception of surgery, caring needs and caring activities for elderly surgical patients perceived by elderly patients, their relatives and nurses in sur-gical wards. 13 elderly patients were participated in in-depth interviews while 12 patients' relatives
and 12 nurses were participated in focus group discussions. The participatory observation and field notes were also used for triangulation purpose. The data were analyzed through content analysis, categorization, interpretation, and formulate the themes. Results show as follows : 1) elderly patients perceived surgery as to relief their pain and suffering and to follow the doctor's treatment. They re-quired close supervision from doctors, needed their relatives to be with, acquired useful information, and relieved the cost of treatment. Although some elderly patients did not require information during preoperative period because they trusted the doctors, 2) their relatives required information as much as possible and some wanted to conceal their patients and made a final decision about surgery. Re-latives also reflected their patients' caring needs that helping from nurses was essential when they
were left, requiring good talking and caring, allowing them to visit, adjust the visiting period, and concerning patient's pain. The important activities for their patients stated by relatives were provid-
ing support, responding the daily activities through patient's needs, understanding patient's feeling,
and providing appropriate communication. 3) nurses perceived that surgery can lead elderly patients to several complications, some cases may be suffered from operation, thus they did not cheer up pa-tients for surgery. Caring needs of elderly patients were greater than that of adult groups. Although elderly patients were able to take care themselves in preoperative period, they identified more de-
mands and time in their postoperative caring needs especially the care from doctors and nurses.
Nurses also identified their caring for elderly patients as that of their own relatives. By evaluation of caring activities during pre and postoperative period, the study showed that nurses were the main
formal caregivers particularly in 3 days after operation and assisted by patients' relatives in daily activities. However, most activities has performed to respond patients' needs in general rather than
the specific purpose for promoting patients' self care ability in recovery period. In addition, some
factors particularly related to adequate information and communication could affect the promoting of patients' self care. This study was therefore significant to develop the effective model for promoting self care of elderly surgical patients.
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