A qualitative research on perceptions towards preoperative assessment of the elderly patients undergoing elective surgery among surgical nurses / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the perceptions towards preoperative assessment of the elderly patients undergoing elective surgery among surgical nurses, providing scientific basis for standardizing preoperative assessment.@*Methods@#Eleven nurses were chosen in surgical ward. Data were collected by using semi-structured in-depth interviews and were analyzed with the Colaizzi method.@*Results@#Four themes were extracted: Necessity of surgical nurses for preoperative assessment of elderly patients undergoing elective surgery; Perceptions towards the contents of preoperative assessment; Current status of preoperative assessment; Suggestions for preoperative assessment.@*Conclusions@#Surgical nurses play an important role in preoperative assessment of elderly patients undergoing elective surgery and they emphasize the comprehensive preoperative assessment contents. However, comprehensive geriatric assessment is rarely used, lacking of uniform and standard criteria. We suggest to standardize preoperative assessment, improving the implementation rate and perioperative care, thus promoting rehabilitation.