Assessment of the Postoperative Recovery: A Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Assessing the postoperative recovery is crucial for expediting healing and optimizing care.The study aims to assess patients' postoperative recovery levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This mixed-methods study was executed in the surgery clinic from March 2022 to February 2023.The study sample consisted of 140 patients for the quantitative method and 12 for the qualitative method.Study data were collected using the postoperative recovery index (PoRI) and a semi-structured interview form.The data were further analyzed utilizing the independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance for quantitative analysis, alongside content analysis for qualitative analysis. RESULTS:For the quantitative analysis section of the study, the mean scores in the sub-dimensions of the PoRI were 3.540.80for the physical activities, 2.380.87 for the bowel symptoms, 2.410.93 for the appetite symptoms, 2.350.74for the general symptoms, and 3.030.84for the psychological symptoms, whereas the overall index was 2.850.55.Differences were determined in patients' sub-dimension and total index scores according to age, body mass index, tobacco use, chronic diseases, and prior surgery, as well as the clinic in which they were hospitalized, type of surgery, and type of anesthesia received (p<0.05).The themes developed for the qualitative analysis of the study were perspectives on postoperative complaints and changes, recovery status, factors affecting recovery, perspectives on the results of surgery, and the significance of recovery. CONCLUSION:Patients experienced considerable difficulty in the overall index throughout the postoperative recovery.Patients reported positive and negative perceptions and perspectives regarding postoperative recovery.