title: The psychological wellbeing  of patients following  excision of a pilonidal sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of a pilonidal sinus wound on patients' psychological wellbeing.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interpretive descriptive approach, using the Model of Living conceptual framework, guided data collection and analysis. The Model of Living was chosen to elicit information on how a pilonidal sinus wound affected activities of living. Participants were recruited from a database of a community nursing service, using purposive sampling, until data saturation was evident. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Data were examined for frequent patterns, which were organised into themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven males and four females with ages ranging 17-39 years were selected through purposive sampling. Five participants reported that their wound affected their psychological wellbeing. Three themes and eight sub themes were identified from the data: adaption, perception and control. Depression and stress were associated with pain, physical inactivity, body weight changes and delayed wound healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A pilonidal sinus wound can affect the psychological wellbeing of patients through pain,physical inactivity, changed body weight and delayed wound healing. Pre-existing conditions could also be exacerbated by the wound.
authors.affiliation: University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ann.stewart@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult