Patients’ knowledge of and experience with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)-guided surgery: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Implementing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines can improve post-operative outcomes and recovery. Patient partnership in care is a core tenet of ERAS, but there is little evidence exploring patients' perceived knowledge of and experience with ERAS guideline recommended care. The objective is to understand patients' knowledge of and experience with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)-guided surgeries. METHODS: Using an interpretive descriptive approach, one-on-one interviews were conducted with patients who had undergone an ERAS-guided surgery in Alberta, Canada. The semi-structure interviews were facilitated by a trained qualitative researcher. The audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed using framework analysis. RESULTS: Seventeen interviews were conducted among females with a mean age of 59.1 years, who mostly had gynecologic or breast surgery. Knowledge of ERAS guidelines was minimal, but when probed about the ERAS care elements many patients expressed receiving ERAS compliant care. Four main themes emerged from the data: (1) patient awareness and education about ERAS guidelines, (2) patient experience with ERAS elements, (3) perception of the quality of care, and (4) patient informed strategies for improving surgical care. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified an opportunity to improve awareness of ERAS guidelines and ERAS recommended care. Patients expressed a desire to be better informed about the processes of care and to be more active members of the care team.