Patients’ Opinions on the Determinants of Postoperative Wound Healing in a Tertiary Health Facility in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Preoperative preparation of the patient which focuses on the improvement of health status, intraoperative asepsis and other
advancements in technology have been shown to facilitate the outcome of surgical interventions and speed up postoperative
wound healing. This study examines patients’ opinion on determinants of postoperative wound healing in a tertiary health facility
in Calabar. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A validated structured four sections interview guide with a
reliability coefficient of 0.79 was used to obtain information from 322 patients who were purposively selected and voluntarily
participated from the 6 surgical wards in the hospital. Data was analysed using simple percentages and hypotheses were tested
using chi-square analysis and independent t-test with the aid of the statistical package for social science version 21. Results
showed that 189 (58.7%) respondents had positive opinion on co-morbidity factors associated with wound healing, while 133
(41.3%) respondents had a negative opinion. On local factors, 197 (61.2%) had a positive opinion, while 125 (38.8%) respondents
had a negative opinion. On the influence of systemic factors, 189 (58.7%) respondents had positive opinion while 133 (41.3%)
respondents had negative opinion. There was a positive significant association (P<0.05) between level of education and patients’
opinion on co-morbidities factors associated with wound healing. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between gender
and systemic factors influencing postoperative wound healing. Based on these findings, it was recommended that Nurses should
carry out health talks in clinics on wound hygiene and positive lifestyles for health promotion