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

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 be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC health services research 2024-12, Vol.24 (1), p.1634-9
Main Authors: Ahmad, Hamza, Arnaert, Antonia, Shedio, Waqas, Tanoli, Omaid, Deckelbaum, Dan, Pasha, Tayyab
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis
Economic aspects
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
Evidence-based medicine
Female
Global health and medicine
Global surgery
Health care reform
Hospitals
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Medical care, Cost of
Pakistan
Patient compliance
Patient education
Qualitative descriptive study
Qualitative Research
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1472-6963
1472-6963
DOI:10.1186/s12913-024-11569-w