Increased security in connection with acute illness

A large proportion of people who undergo surgery experience anxiety. The experience of undergoing surgery is different for each person, but an essential factor for patients to experience good care is that patients feel safe.

Recovery from surgery can be challenging and the emotional response has a significant impact on recovery. Feeling safe has positive effects on postoperative recovery and reduces preoperative worry and anxiety. By recognizing patients' perioperative concerns, more nursing interventions can be developed that the specialist nurse can then apply to improve patient well-being. It is important to increase knowledge about patients' perception of safety in order to improve care and reduce suffering. If the perception of safety in connection with surgery can be improved, this can lead to faster recovery with shorter treatment time, fewer return visits and earlier return to work. This would be of significant benefit primarily to the patient but also to the healthcare system and society. The overall aim of this project is to study patients' experience of perioperative anxiety and/or safety during surgery, and specialist nurses' strategies to reduce anxiety and increase the feeling of safety.