title: Symptoms and self-care following pancreaticoduodenectomy: Perspectives from patients and healthcare professionals - Foundation for an interactive ICT application.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Poor prognosis and a problematic recovery period after pancreaticoduodenectomy means that patients may benefit from early detection of symptoms and support for self-management. Interactive Information and Communication Technology tools can be used for this purpose, but the content needs to be relevant to patients as well as healthcare professionals. To facilitate development of the content of an application for this purpose, the aim of this study was to explore common symptoms and self-care in the first six months after pancreaticoduodenectomy, as identified by patients and healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through individual interviews with patients (n = 14), along with two focus group interviews and one individual interview with healthcare professionals (n = 10). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Common symptoms after surgery were those related to eating, bowel function and emotional wellbeing, along with fatigue and pain. Some self-care activities and advice were mentioned in the interviews. The patients often experienced a lack of advice on self-care at discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results render knowledge of the symptoms it is important to be aware of and to assess regularly after pancreaticoduodenectomy. The results also contribute to knowledge about specific self-care related to these symptoms, even though it was not extensively described, and further research is needed to define evidence-based self-care advice.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Gastrocentrum, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: tina.gustavell@ki.se.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gustavell
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundberg
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Breast and Sarcoma Unit, Radiumhemmet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wengström
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden; University of Skövde, School of Health and Education, Skövde, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Browall
authors.affiliation: Karolinska University Hospital, Gastrocentrum, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Surgery, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Segersvärd
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langius-Eklöf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D000068997:Smartphone
keywords: ICT; Pancreatic neoplasms; Pancreatic surgery; Pancreaticoduodenectomy; Self-care; Smartphone application; Symptoms; advice