Introducing a patient-focused care map in colorectal surgery: a pilot qualitative study of patients' and surgical...

Care maps for patient care have been around for many years. Key stakeholders at our institution developed and implemented a care map for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative pilot study was twofold. First was to understand the lived experience of patients being cared for under a newly-implemented care map utilizing patient diaries and interviews. The second goal was to describe the experiences of surgical oncology nurses caring for these patients using a focus group technique. The results of our small study indicated that patients appreciated having a document that outlines daily activities and goals, and were anxious to get home, but were disappointed in the discharge planning process. Nurses were positive about the care map overall, but felt they could have contributed more in the development and planning stages of the care map. Overall, the implementation of our patient-centred care map was a success.