Sammanfattning
Background
The realisation of continuity in day surgical care is analysed in this study. The term ‘continuity of
care’ is used to refer to healthcare processes that take place in time (time flow) and require
coordination (coordination flow), rapport (caring relationship flow) and information (information flow).
Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy or inguinal hernia day surgery are ideal
candidates for studying the continuity of care, as the diseases are very common and the treatment
protocol is mainly the same in different institutions, in addition to which the procedure is elective and
most patients have a predictable clinical course.
Aim
The aim of the study was to describe, from the day surgery patients' own perspective, how continuity
of care was realised at different phases of the treatment, prior to the day of surgery, on the day of
surgery and after it.
Method
The study population consisted of 203 day surgical patients 10/2009-12/2010 (N = 350, response rate
58%). A questionnaire was developed for this study.
Results
Based on the results, the continuity of care was well realised as a rule. Continuity is improved by the
fact that patients know the nurse who will look after them in the hospital before the day of surgery and
have a chance to meet the nurse even after the operation. Meeting the surgeon who performed the
operation afterwards also improves patients' perception of continuation of care.
Conclusions
Continuity of care may be improved by ensuring that the patient meets caring staff prior to the day of
operation and after the procedure. An important topic for further research would be how continuation
of care is realised in the case of other patient groups (e.g. in internal medicine). On the other hand,
realisation of continuation of care should also be studied from the viewpoint of those taking part in
patient care in order to find similarities/differences between patients' perceptions and professionals'
views. Studying interventions aimed to promote continuity of care, for example in patient guidance,
would also be of great importance. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.