Social determinants of self-care subsequent to major medical surgery at the Central Regional Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Abstract

The periods between post-discharge and full recovery can be challenging for most patients, since they have to be on self-care as they work their way back to full recovery. This study aimed to find out the experiences of discharged patients on self-care subsequent to major medical surgery at the Central Regional Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The study is informed by the qualitative research design. Experiences of twenty participants who had undergone surgery and were continuing with the recovery regimen at home were tapped into as the sample for the study. Purposive sampling technique was also adopted in selecting ten clinicians from the surgical ward to ascertain what went into preparing discharged patients to care for themselves at home after major medical surgery. Based on the findings of the study it was concluded that education, residential status, marital status, and availability and ability to convert social network into social capital constitute major social determinants of self-care. It was recommended among others that the social determinants of self-care identified above should inform plans aimed at preparing patients better to continue the recovery process on their own at home.

Keywords: Social, Determinants, Self-Care, Surgery, Discharged Patients