Presurgical needs of cancer patients: a descriptive study

The purpose of this study was to understand surgical cancer patients' experiences for identification and exploration of their presurgical needs. The investigation was a descriptive study of 7 surgical cancer patients. A semistructured interview was developed to answer the research questions. Twenty one themes were identified that described the participants' experiences in the surgical services department. These themes were divided into eight major themes: (a use of personal resources, (b) preoperative period, (c) surgical outcomes and risks, (d) reassurances, (e) cancer, (f) personal support, (g) surgical process, and (h) attributes of health care workers. The findings identified how surgical cancer patients perceive their surgical experience. Through the understanding of their experiences, improvements can be made to support cancer surgical patients.