Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions

Abstract Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a cost-effective perioperative approach that has been shown to shorten patients’ hospital length of stay, improve resource utilization, and reduce postoperative costs for both patients and hospitals. While ERAS has the potential to offer even greate...

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Main Authors: Hamza Ahmad, Antonia Arnaert, Waqas Shedio, Omaid Tanoli, Dan Deckelbaum, Tayyab Pasha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11569-w
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author Hamza Ahmad
Antonia Arnaert
Waqas Shedio
Omaid Tanoli
Dan Deckelbaum
Tayyab Pasha
author_facet Hamza Ahmad
Antonia Arnaert
Waqas Shedio
Omaid Tanoli
Dan Deckelbaum
Tayyab Pasha
author_sort Hamza Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a cost-effective perioperative approach that has been shown to shorten patients’ hospital length of stay, improve resource utilization, and reduce postoperative costs for both patients and hospitals. While ERAS has the potential to offer even greater benefits in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) its successful long-term implementation remains incomplete in Pakistan. This study aimed to explore insights and identify opportunities for implementing ERAS within the local socio-environmental context. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, using convenience sampling to recruit 11 surgical residents from a public tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data collected was then thematically analyzed to capture the residents’ experiences regarding the implementation of ERAS. Acknowledging the benefits of ERAS, participants faced several challenges when implementing ERAS in their respective wards. The participants identified several key opportunities for successful implementation, including enhanced teamwork and collaboration amongst medical teams, improved patient education and compliance towards ERAS, strengthening of peripheral healthcare services, and targeted resource allocation. Even though several challenges identified by the participants were like those highlighted in high-income countries (HICs), unique barriers specific to Pakistan’s healthcare structure and culture also emerged. Further research exploring and highlighting these specific challenges is needed to overcome these core barriers and promote a shift towards a standardized healthcare system focused on improving patient outcomes.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6963
language English
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spelling doaj-art-8a4c5cd45ebc4720b0ea155af1f8e9432024-12-22T12:23:31ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-12-012411910.1186/s12913-024-11569-wEnhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directionsHamza Ahmad0Antonia Arnaert1Waqas Shedio2Omaid Tanoli3Dan Deckelbaum4Tayyab Pasha5Center for Global Surgery, McGill University Health CenterCenter for Global Surgery, McGill University Health CenterDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, Allama Iqbal Medical CollegeCenter for Global Surgery, McGill University Health CenterCenter for Global Surgery, McGill University Health CenterDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, Allama Iqbal Medical CollegeAbstract Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a cost-effective perioperative approach that has been shown to shorten patients’ hospital length of stay, improve resource utilization, and reduce postoperative costs for both patients and hospitals. While ERAS has the potential to offer even greater benefits in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) its successful long-term implementation remains incomplete in Pakistan. This study aimed to explore insights and identify opportunities for implementing ERAS within the local socio-environmental context. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, using convenience sampling to recruit 11 surgical residents from a public tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data collected was then thematically analyzed to capture the residents’ experiences regarding the implementation of ERAS. Acknowledging the benefits of ERAS, participants faced several challenges when implementing ERAS in their respective wards. The participants identified several key opportunities for successful implementation, including enhanced teamwork and collaboration amongst medical teams, improved patient education and compliance towards ERAS, strengthening of peripheral healthcare services, and targeted resource allocation. Even though several challenges identified by the participants were like those highlighted in high-income countries (HICs), unique barriers specific to Pakistan’s healthcare structure and culture also emerged. Further research exploring and highlighting these specific challenges is needed to overcome these core barriers and promote a shift towards a standardized healthcare system focused on improving patient outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11569-wGlobal surgeryEnhanced recovery after surgeryQualitative descriptive studyGlobal health and medicine
spellingShingle Hamza Ahmad
Antonia Arnaert
Waqas Shedio
Omaid Tanoli
Dan Deckelbaum
Tayyab Pasha
Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
BMC Health Services Research
Global surgery
Enhanced recovery after surgery
Qualitative descriptive study
Global health and medicine
title Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
title_full Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
title_fullStr Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
title_short Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
title_sort enhanced recovery after surgery in pakistan a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions
topic Global surgery
Enhanced recovery after surgery
Qualitative descriptive study
Global health and medicine
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11569-w
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