Factors Influencing Intraoperative Waiting Time According to the Experience of Iranian Families

Exploring the Lived Experience of Families Waiting for Surgical Patients: A Qualitative Study

Family-centered care is an important aspect of perioperative nursing, especially during the perioperative waiting period that separates patients from their families or significant others. However, there is a lack of understanding on what waiting means to family members or significant others. In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, we explored the lived experiences of family members waiting for surgical patients. We identified a shared experience during waiting that we called a "time to focus on self." We identified five supporting themes that shaped this meaning of waiting: the environment, activities, communication, expectations, and feelings. The perioperative waiting experience may be a necessary time of self-reflection and self-care for family members when responsibilities for loved ones are temporarily on hold. Perioperative nurses can provide family-centered interventions to address the physical and emotional needs of individuals who are waiting and improve their experience.

The Effect of Intra-operative Text Messages in Reducing Anxiety Levels Among Family Members of Patients Undergoing Major Musculoskeletal Tumour Surgery

BACKGROUND

The family of patients undergo profound anxiety when their family member is undergoing major oncological surgery. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of periodic intraoperative text messages regarding the status of ongoing surgery in reducing anxiety levels among the patients' family members.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Family members of 60 patients (one for each patient) who were undergoing major oncological surgery lasting more than 1 h were recruited and randomized into two groups (30 patients each). Group 1 (no SMS group) did not receive any text message while Group 2 (SMS group) received periodic intraoperative text messages. Respondents aged less than 16 years, those with associated psychiatric illnesses, and those who did not consent to the study were excluded. Anxiety among family members was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) and Anxiety component of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) at five different periods; (P1) 1 day prior to surgery (P2) at separation from family at the operation theatre (P3) 1 h after commencement of surgery (P4) immediately after completion of surgery, and (P5) 1 day after surgery.

RESULTS

The mean VAS-A and HADS-S scores between both the groups did not show a statistically significant difference for P1, P2 and P5 assessment periods (preoperative period, separation in operation theatre, post-operative period). However, mean VAS-A and HADS-A scores were significantly higher for Group 1 compared to Group 2 during P3 and P4 periods, 1 h after commencement of surgery and completion of surgery, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Periodic text messages updating the status of ongoing surgery helps to reduce anxiety for family members of patients undergoing oncological surgery during the intraoperative period.