Patients' experiences and expectations with self-treatment following day surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

Abstract

Background: It is a known fact the demand for elective day surgery is increasing. A wide range of literature focusing on patients ‘experiences and expectations after day surgery in general could be found. However, limited literature was available for the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) patient group regarding their experiences and expectations of self- care after day surgery. Purpose: The purpose of this master thesis is to gain an insight into the experiences and expectations of self- care, after CTS day surgery. By investigating this topic, we aim to find out what functioned well, and the challenges faced by this patient group, to achieve optimal recovery after day surgery. Method: A qualitative research method with the help of semi-structured in- depth interviews from six participants were used to carry out this study. The interviews were then transcribed and analyzed by Malteruds´ (2017), systematic text condensation. Results: Findings from the material gathered illustrates that his patient group faced challenges with self-care. Participants expressed unsatisfactory pain management, feelings of being handicapped and being ill equipped with adequate knowledge to execute various postoperative phases and activities of daily living. However, insufficient information was seen as the “key element” joining these various challenges together. Conclusion: The general feedback from the participants in this study was that day surgery was the correct choice for them, however, there is a need for improvement regarding pain relief management, support/follow-up and adequate information of the postoperative phase and rehabilitation to achieve optimal recovery. We hope the findings from our study can contribute to the implications of future practice by improving the care and information given to these individuals undergoing CTS in a day surgery setting.