Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study
Objectives Nearly 40 000 Italian patients had their arthroplasty postponed between March and May 2020 (lockdown period) and experienced a period of several months without knowing when surgeries would resume. The hypothesis was that such conditions caused changes in perceived well-being and quality o...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e083598.full |
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| author | Marina Torre Iuliia Urakcheeva Paola Ciccarelli Michael Tenti Virgilia Toccaceli |
| author_facet | Marina Torre Iuliia Urakcheeva Paola Ciccarelli Michael Tenti Virgilia Toccaceli |
| author_sort | Marina Torre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Nearly 40 000 Italian patients had their arthroplasty postponed between March and May 2020 (lockdown period) and experienced a period of several months without knowing when surgeries would resume. The hypothesis was that such conditions caused changes in perceived well-being and quality of life. The study aimed to explore the feelings, perceptions and concerns of orthopaedic patients in Italy during COVID-related arthroplasty rescheduling.Design The study designed by an interdisciplinary research group, used a qualitative methodology based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews.Setting Interviews were conducted by phone from August to November 2021.Participants A purposive sample of orthopaedic patients (from North, Centre and South of Italy), whose elective arthroplasty was delayed due to the COVID-related healthcare measures, was selected. Patients who opted for further voluntary deferment were included. Participants were mainly recruited through orthopaedic surgeons.Results We conducted and analysed 26 interviews (12 males and 14 females; age range 50–85 years). We identified six themes describing negative feelings, deterioration of quality of life, resources behind coping strategies associated with surgery postponement and lockdowns. A psychosocial phenomenon we called the ‘lockdown paradox’ was detected. It was induced by the general condition of isolation at home that made orthopaedic patients share restricted mobility with all the people in the country and, therefore, suffer less.Conclusions Arthroplasty suspension in the context of anti-COVID measures had implications on emotional well-being and perceived quality of life. Deterioration appeared mitigated by inner resources, favourable living conditions and, in some cases, by the psychosocial phenomenon, not detected in other studies, of the ‘lockdown paradox’ associated with mobility and autonomy restrictions shared by the whole community. Future studies are needed to investigate predictors of negative feelings and deterioration of quality of life in patients experiencing sudden major surgery delays. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0a616ee107084a3e95fdc7c539de4651 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-0a616ee107084a3e95fdc7c539de46512025-01-15T04:25:13ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-01-0115110.1136/bmjopen-2023-083598Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative studyMarina Torre0Iuliia Urakcheeva1Paola Ciccarelli2Michael Tenti3Virgilia Toccaceli4Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health), Rome, ItalyIstituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health), Rome, ItalyIstituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health), Rome, ItalyInstitute for Research on Pain, Rimini, ItalyIstituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health), Rome, ItalyObjectives Nearly 40 000 Italian patients had their arthroplasty postponed between March and May 2020 (lockdown period) and experienced a period of several months without knowing when surgeries would resume. The hypothesis was that such conditions caused changes in perceived well-being and quality of life. The study aimed to explore the feelings, perceptions and concerns of orthopaedic patients in Italy during COVID-related arthroplasty rescheduling.Design The study designed by an interdisciplinary research group, used a qualitative methodology based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews.Setting Interviews were conducted by phone from August to November 2021.Participants A purposive sample of orthopaedic patients (from North, Centre and South of Italy), whose elective arthroplasty was delayed due to the COVID-related healthcare measures, was selected. Patients who opted for further voluntary deferment were included. Participants were mainly recruited through orthopaedic surgeons.Results We conducted and analysed 26 interviews (12 males and 14 females; age range 50–85 years). We identified six themes describing negative feelings, deterioration of quality of life, resources behind coping strategies associated with surgery postponement and lockdowns. A psychosocial phenomenon we called the ‘lockdown paradox’ was detected. It was induced by the general condition of isolation at home that made orthopaedic patients share restricted mobility with all the people in the country and, therefore, suffer less.Conclusions Arthroplasty suspension in the context of anti-COVID measures had implications on emotional well-being and perceived quality of life. Deterioration appeared mitigated by inner resources, favourable living conditions and, in some cases, by the psychosocial phenomenon, not detected in other studies, of the ‘lockdown paradox’ associated with mobility and autonomy restrictions shared by the whole community. Future studies are needed to investigate predictors of negative feelings and deterioration of quality of life in patients experiencing sudden major surgery delays.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e083598.full |
| spellingShingle | Marina Torre Iuliia Urakcheeva Paola Ciccarelli Michael Tenti Virgilia Toccaceli Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study BMJ Open |
| title | Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study |
| title_full | Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study |
| title_short | Understanding patients’ emotional well-being, perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty: an Italian qualitative study |
| title_sort | understanding patients emotional well being perceptions and concerns during an unprecedented deferment of arthroplasty an italian qualitative study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e083598.full |
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