ArticleInternational journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being2025
The emotional toll of day-of-surgery cancellations on patients - a qualitative study using participant observation and interviews.
Article in International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Quantification of emergency operating theatre process performance: a systematic review of clinical studies.British journal of anaesthesia · 2026Pooled it
- Absent or not invited? A multilevel qualitative study of patients and healthcare professionals' perspectives on barriers and enablers of outpatient attendance in Southern Denmark.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Impact of the Federated Data Platform's digital surgery scheduling system on elective theatre utilisation at an NHS Trust: an interrupted time series analysis.BMJ health & care informatics · 2026Article
- Rapid and accurate preoperative diagnosis of urinary tract infections in urolithiasis patients: clinical validation of the HB&L system.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
objectivesTo explore patients' experiences of day-of-surgery cancellation and the initial days of the extended waiting period.
methodsA qualitative explorative design inspired by Ricoeur's phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was used. Participant observation of day-of-surgery cancellations and semi-structured follow-up interviews with patients were conducted. Transcribed data were analysed using a Ricoeur-inspired analysis.
resultsFive themes emerged from the analysis and interpretation, including "an unexpected and shocking message-triggering reactions ranging from crying to unclear thinking", "shattered mental strength-an emotional rollercoaster marked by exhaustion and concerns", "a fragile situation-the need for early, informative and caring management of surgery cancellation", "prolonged waiting-feeling stuck and mentally distressed, caught in limbo with one's disease" and "known and unknown consequences-a butterfly effect".
conclusionsSurgery cancellation could be explained as a "butterfly effect" causing known and unknown consequences triggered by the initial shock. Various emotional reactions followed the event and patients' mental strength was shattered. Provision of empathic care and information during cancellation notification was essential. The prolonged waiting period subjected patients to a sense of being stuck in limbo, unable to move forward with their lives. Multiple new practical preparations had to be made, and trust in the healthcare sector might be compromised.
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