Exploring The Experiences Of Patients With Colorectal Cancer During The First Six Months After Surgery

Objective:To explore the experiences of patients with colorectal cancer and the main factors confused the patients during the first six months after colorectal cancer, and to promote the medical personnel’s understanding of patients’ physical, psychological and social problems during the recovery procedure to make a significant contribution to the planning and delivery of care.Methods:Phenomenological approach of qualitative research was conducted in this study. Using purposeful sampling,22patients with colorectal cancer in a general teaching hospital in Chongqing were interviewed at discharge, the third month and the sixth month after surgery. Data analysis was a reflective process and the findings were presented through the description and interpretation of themes and sub-themes.Results:1. Waking from the anesthetic, needing information, inability to eat and drink, loss of dignity, loss of mobility, lack of sleep, compunction and discharge were the eight themes concluded from the postoperative experiences of patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.2. Vulnerability, compunction, lack of control, needing information and support, lack of activity, and "why did this happen to me?" attitude were the six themes concluded from the chemotherapy experiences of patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.3. Refraining internal standards of health, living with uncertainty and needing support were the three themes concluded from the colorectal cancer patients’ experiences at six months after surgery.Conclusion:1. The rehabilitation from colorectal cancer surgery was a long-term and dynamic process, and patients would face kinds of physical and psychological troubles during this period. Although patients were able to consciously take several actions to deal with these troubles, targeted interventions from nurses were also needed to achieve the optimal recovery of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.2. Symptoms and emotional reactions of patients with colorectal cancer after surgery does not remain unchanged following a fixed pattern, and we medical staff should pay attention to the changes and fluctuations of their physical and emotional status during the rehabilitation so as to identify problems and take intervention as early as possible.3. The continue nursing should be carried out to meet the ongoing supporting needs of patients with colorectal cancer, because that the end of treatment doesn’t meaning patients’physical and mental rehabilitation and the end of their relationship with hospital.4. Nurses should treat patients with or without a stoma equally in practice rather than assume that the stoma one is more important.