Patients' Ability to Self-Manage Their Surgical Wound to Prevent Wound Complications: A Cross-Sectional Study

AimsTo provide insights into postdischarge patients' experiences and preferences regarding surgical wound care education at discharge in the Netherlands.BackgroundPatient involvement in wound care practices postdischarge is beneficial for the prevention of surgical site infections and has become an essential component in reducing the burden on healthcare systems. Surgical wound care discharge education is crucial to achieve this.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using the 18-item Surgical Wounds And Patient Participation Questionnaire on patients who underwent surgery between January and May 2022. The survey was administered 2 weeks postoperatively.ResultsIn total, 213 patients completed the survey. Most patients preferred verbal instructions about their surgical wound care (n = 146; 84.9%) at the time of discharge, with 52.3% indicating a preference for multiple forms of information. Approximately three-quarters of patients (n = 99; 76.7%) responded that they were able to successfully take care of their wounds at home and 16.3% indicated wound self-care inability.ConclusionOur study highlighted patients' preferences for verbal instructions about their surgical wound care at the time of discharge. Notably, half of the patients expressed a desire for multiple forms of information. Furthermore, we identified gaps in the information provided to patients, indicating areas for improvement in discharge communication.ImplicationsThe identified gaps in surgical wound care discharge education offer opportunities to enhance in-hospital education by aligning it more closely with patient preferences and providing education of topics often missed. This could ultimately improve their ability to self-manage their surgical wound at home. Future research should delve deeper into understanding the factors influencing patients' ability to self-manage their wounds.Impact Despite the acknowledged importance of patient education on surgical wound care, there is limited literature regarding patients' experiences and preferences in this area. The findings of this study highlight patients' preferences for verbal instructions and reveal gaps in the information provided to patients about surgical wound care at the time of discharge. The identified gaps in information provided to surgical patients offer opportunities to enhance in-hospital education by healthcare professionals.Reporting MethodWe adhered to the STROBE guideline.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.