A qualitative research on perceptions towards preoperative assessment of the elderly patients undergoing elective surgery among surgical nurses

Objective To investigate the perceptions towards preoperative assessment of the elderly patients undergoing elective surgery among surgical nurses, providing scientific basis for standardizing preoperative assessment. Methods Eleven nurses were chosen in surgical ward. Data were collected by using semi-structured in-depth interviews and were analyzed with the Colaizzi method. Results Four themes were extracted: Necessity of surgical nurses for preoperative assessment of elderly patients undergoing elective surgery; Perceptions towards the contents of preoperative assessment; Current status of preoperative assessment; Suggestions for preoperative assessment. Conclusions Surgical nurses play an important role in preoperative assessment of elderly patients undergoing elective surgery and they emphasize the comprehensive preoperative assessment contents. However, comprehensive geriatric assessment is rarely used, lacking of uniform and standard criteria. We suggest to standardize preoperative assessment, improving the implementation rate and perioperative care, thus promoting rehabilitation. Key words: Nurses; Aged; Preoperative assessment; Perception; Qualitative research