Background: In Norway, 6000 patients were operated on due to hip fracture in 2016. Hip fracture results in increased suffering and often in a dramatic change in an older person's life. The experience of suffering in patients with hip fracture, or nursing staff's perception of it in the preoperative period, is sparsely studied. The perspective of the study was based on caring sciences.
Aim: The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of subjective experiences of suffering among elderly hip-fracture patients during the preoperative period, seen from the patients' and nurses' perspective.
Methodological approach: A Q-methodological approach was used. Forty statements (Q-sample), based on interviews and theory, were ranked in a forced-choice distribution curve from 'mostly agree' to 'mostly disagree', followed by postinterviews. Nine patients and five nurses participated. A by-person factor analysis in the form of principal component analysis with varimax and hand rotation was conducted.
Results: Three factors, also called viewpoints, emerged as follows: (i) 'Feeling safe through presence, trust and hope'; (ii) 'Feeling safe occurs when the patient is seen, met and informed'; and (iii) 'Feeling alone and angry at oneself'. A polarisation between participants occurred, since the youngest patients (median age 73), the oldest patients (median age 90) and the nurses were represented in each specific factor.
Conclusion: There exist differences between how the nursing staff, the youngest and the oldest elderly patients experienced the preoperative period and what can enhance or alleviate their suffering. Where the youngest elderly communicated safety through trust and relatives' presence, the oldest elderly communicated insecurity in relation to staff and experienced severe pain and loneliness. Nursing staff and one patient emphasised the importance of seeing the patient in the first meeting to establish a feeling of security.
Keywords: Q-methodology; caring sciences; elderly; experience; hip fracture; preoperative; suffering.
© 2019 Nordic College of Caring Science.