EXPLORING THE KNOWLEDGE OF POST-OPERATIVE PATIENTS WITH GENERAL SURGERY REGARDING DIET AND NUTRIRION

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition plays a vital role in post-operative recovery by promoting wound healing, reducing complications, and improving overall patient outcomes. Despite its importance, many surgical patients have insufficient knowledge regarding appropriate dietary practices following surgery. Objective: To explore the knowledge of post-operative patients undergoing general surgery regarding diet and nutrition at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Sahiwal, Pakistan. A total of 92 post-operative patients admitted to the general surgery wards were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured bilingual (Urdu and English) questionnaire consisting of demographic information and 12 yes/no knowledge questions related to post-operative diet and nutrition. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation, were used for data analysis. Results: Among the 92 participants, 61 (66.3%) were female and 31 (33.7%) were male. Most participants (51.1%) were aged 15–30 years. Overall, 54 (58.7%) participants demonstrated good knowledge regarding post-operative diet and nutrition, 31 (33.7%) had excellent knowledge, while only 7 (7.6%) had poor knowledge. Although participants generally recognized the importance of adequate nutrition, vitamins, and minerals in wound healing, gaps remained in understanding nutrient interactions and specific dietary recommendations during the recovery period. Conclusion: The majority of post-operative patients demonstrated good knowledge of diet and nutrition; however, important deficiencies persist, particularly regarding specific nutritional guidelines and nutrient interactions. Strengthening patient education through structured nutritional counseling and public health education programs may enhance recovery outcomes, reduce complications, and improve the quality of post-operative care.