Healthcare workers' perceptions of postoperative care and implementation challenges in conflict-affected northwest...

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Public Health
• Conflict Medicine

Background:

• Protracted violent conflict in northwest Syria (NWS) has critically degraded healthcare, particularly postoperative care.
• Conflict-related injuries exacerbate the strain on limited healthcare resources.
• Inadequate postoperative care can escalate minor complications into life-threatening events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate healthcare workers' attitudes, practices, and perceptions of postoperative care in NWS.
• To identify key barriers hindering the provision of adequate postoperative care in the region.

Main Methods:

• Purposive and snowball sampling identified 18 key health leaders for semistructured interviews.
• An online survey on hospital practices was distributed to 466 clinical staff and administrators.
• Interview summaries were analyzed using a standardized codebook; survey data was compiled.

Main Results:

• Key informant interviews revealed barriers: fragmented health systems, workforce shortages, resource scarcity, lack of standards, and disinterest.
• Survey respondents cited poor patient compliance (66%), lack of follow-up (42%), and non-sterile instruments (42%) as causes of complications.
• Proposed solutions include increased staffing, training, improved sterilization, and enhanced patient follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The NWS health system is overburdened due to conflict, high demand, and insufficient resources, making consistent postoperative care challenging.
• Inadequate postoperative care contributes to preventable complications and mortality.
• Effective solutions must address the complex realities and context of the NWS health system.