Patient satisfaction with 23-hour "short-stay" observation following breast cancer surgery.

PURPOSE/

OBJECTIVES

To determine what problems patients undergoing breast cancer surgery experienced following discharge after participating in a 23-hour short-stay observation program and to explore their perceptions of the short-stay experience.

DESIGN

Descriptive and exploratory.

SETTING

A comprehensive cancer center in an urban setting.

SAMPLE: 52 women undergoing modified radical mastectomy, segmental mastectomy (lumpectomy) with axillary node dissection, simple mastectomy, or other breast procedures.

METHODS

Telephone interviews 24-72 hours and 7-10 days after discharge using questionnaires developed by the investigators.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Postoperative difficulties, satisfaction with pain relief, positive and negative aspects of the short-stay process, and discharge to home.

FINDINGS: Most patients had no difficulty with drain and incision care (84%), reported satisfactory analgesic relief with their prescribed medications (> 95%), and were prepared to leave the hospital on first postoperative day (85%). Patient education and care provided by physicians and nurses were highly rated. Although most responses were highly favorable, some women desired longer hospitalization (21%) and greater privacy while on the observation unit (13%).

CONCLUSIONS

By coordinating inpatient and outpatient services, short-stay observation following breast cancer surgery can be accomplished in a safe environment that patients perceive to be satisfactory and of high quality.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Short-stay observation is feasible for appropriately prepared postoperative patients who normally are managed on traditional impatient units.