Understanding the experience of pain in post-operative adult patients from Heidegger's phenomenology

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative pain is a complex and subjective experience that profoundly affects patient recovery.

Objective: To understand from a phenomenological perspective the pain experience of adult postoperative patients in a secondary-level public institution.

Methodology: A qualitative, exploratory, and interpretive approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the experience of adult patients with postoperative pain following a recent surgical procedure.

Results: 2 key categories were identified: postoperative emotional experience and projection toward recovery. Pain is not merely a physical sensation but involves emotional dimensions such as fear, anxiety, and hope. In coping with pain, patients develop expectations of recovery that are influenced by the emotional support received and the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions provided by the nursing staff.

Conclusion: Postoperative pain is not only a physical phenomenon, but a complex experience influenced by emotions such as fear, anxiety, hope, and uncertainty. From this perspective, the patient cannot be reduced to a diagnosis or clinical protocol but must be understood as an integral being who experiences pain from his body, his biography and his environment.