Patients' experience of recovery following knee replacement surgery

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Patients' experience of recovery following primary elective total knee replacement surgery

• IRAS ID

  162544

• Contact name

  Angela Dickinson

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Hertfordshire

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 8 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  INTRODUCTION: For a term so broadly used in health, research conceptualising recovery is limited. Clinically, recovery is seen as a transition from illness to health and as a dynamic and continuous process where patients regain control of their physical, psychological, social and habitual functions. In health policy, National Health Service (NHS) policies in England associate successful recovery with reductions in hospital length of stay, complication and re-admissions rates, and improved patient reported outcome measures. From a patient’s perspective, recovery is less clearly defined. Concepts of recovery are diluted in the qualitative and quantitative research that investigates patients’ experience, expectations and satisfaction of the surgical process. Patients see recovery as “a life interruption” whilst they struggle to regain control of normality. Papers discussing age and gender differences are rare.

  In light of policy and current literature, the lack of clarity around the concept of recovery necessitates further research. For methodological purposes, this study will focus on total knee joint replacement surgery (TKR).

  AIMS: The aim of this qualitative research is to understand patients’ experience of recovery following primary elective total knee replacement surgery and how time, age and gender shape this experience.

  RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS: This study has a longitudinal qualitative research design. Twenty to twenty-five participants, both male and female, will be interviewed following a primary elective TKR. Interviews will take place two to three weeks after the participants’ hospital discharge and six months after surgery. Participants will be recruited from an NHS England hospital. Data will be approached using thematic analysis.

  OUTCOMES/BENEFITS OF THE STUDY: It is hoped that this research project will contribute new knowledge to the current qualitative research in patients’ experience of surgical recovery. Another benefit would be to inform practice and offer a platform to evaluate the TKR pre- and post-operative care pathways.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/YH/0563

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Dec 2015

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion