"Negotiating a new normality" - a longitudinal qualitative exploration of the meaning of living with an open surgical wound.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Little is known about the experiences of people living with open surgical wounds. These wounds are common and predominantly affect young and actively working people. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of living with open surgical wounds.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted. We collected data using two individual interviews with each of ten participants (aged between 18-73 years) who had open surgical wounds. Our analytical approach was based on qualitative content analysis. Methods are reported using COREQ guidelines.

Results

We found that the meaning of living with open surgical wounds is shaped by five subthemes: "enduring healing", "life disruption", "adapting to a new reality", "striving for healing" and "returni

SUBMITTER: Pađen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9481149 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature