Concept Analysis of Post-operative Recovery after Abdominal Surgery: State of the Science

This study aimed to analyze the concept of post-operative recovery among patients receiving abdominal surgery.

The concept analysis based on Walker and 'Avant's framework was adopted in this study. Data were explored and collected from different databases, namely, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and SAGE Journals, by using the following keywords: “patients receiving abdominal surgery,” “post-operative recovery,” and “concept analysis.”

The attributes of post-operative recovery after abdominal surgery varied depending on different phases of recovery.The antecedents included physiological factors, psychological factors, social factors, and habitual factors.The consequences were as follows: 1) decreased unpleasant physical symptoms; 2) restoration of bodily functions; 3) achievement of a level of emotional well-being; and 4) ability to resume normal activities.

Factors influencing post-operative recovery after abdominal surgery should be taken into consideration when developing medical interventions and further studied to favor future research development. The comprehension of concepts will guide health professionals formulate in evaluating the quality of nursing care, develop the desired tools for evaluating research outcomes, and formulate new theories.