Perceived Therapeutic Self-Care Ability of Patients in Surgical Units: A Multisite Survey

Abstract

Assessing patients’ therapeutic self-care ability allows nurses to initialize care and implement interventions to enhance their self-care abilities. However, sociocultural beliefs and determinants can affect patients’ self-care practices. This study determined perceived therapeutic self-care ability of patients in surgical units in Pakistan. A survey was conducted using a purposive sample 511 patients admitted to surgical units for at least 24 hours. Data were collected using the Urdu version of Therapeutic Self-Care Measure. The mean self-care ability score was 20.05 ± 4.3. Patients felt more prepared to take their medications, but less prepared to respond to any unforeseeable physical changes. Significant difference was found between self-care ability of male (20.68 ± 4.15) and female (19.18 ± 4.27) ( p < .001) patients. A weak negative correlation was found between patient age and self-care ability ( r = −0.15, p = .001). Self-care ability assessment should be included in routine discharge planning, and nurses should provide more tailored self-care discharge education to surgical patients.