1.Methods
1.1Recruitment
Using a purposive sampling method, patients who underwent surgery at our
hospital or came to the hospital for review 6 months after surgery in
March to April 2022 were selected for interview.Inclusion criteria:(1)
Patients who meet the diagnostic criteria for thyroid cancer and are
within six months of radical thyroid cancer surgery;(2) Age
> 18 years;(3) Clear awareness and articulate language;(4)
Voluntary participation in this study.Exclusion criteria:(1) Failure of
the patient to provide valid information;(2) Also involved in other
studies.The sample size is considered saturated when no new themes
emerge.
1.2Research Methods
1.2.1Develop interview outline
Before the formal interview, a pre-interview outline was prepared by
reviewing the literature and consulting with our thyroid surgery
specialists, taking into account the purpose of the interview.After
pre-interviewing the 2 patients, the outline was revised based on the
results of the pre-interview, and professionals trained in qualitative
interviewing were asked to validate the outline and finalize the
interview outline.
1.2.2Data Collection Methods
Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients
according to a defined interview outline.The purpose, content, and
method of this interview were explained to the patients before the
interview to protect their privacy. Select a quiet, private, empty
demonstration room as the interview site.The interviews were recorded,
and the patients’ body movements, emotions, and expressions were
recorded. The duration of each interview was 15-30 minutes.
1.2.3Data Analysis Methods
The audio files were listened to and manually transcribed into text
within 24 h after the interview, and the data were analyzed using the
Colaizzi 7-step method by another researcher who checked the audio
recordings against the textual data.
1.3Quality Control
(1) The researchers were trained systematically in qualitative research
and then conducted interviews and established a good trusting
relationship with the patients before the interviews. (2) Two
researchers independently transformed, analyzed, and checked the data,
and held subject group discussions when differences in opinion arose,
and finally formed themes of the real experiences of thyroid cancer
patients after surgery. (3) The integrated themes and descriptions were
explained to the patients to ensure the rigor of the study.(4)This study
followed the COREQ guidelines.
1.4Ethics
This study was approved by the hospital ethics committee.(Blinded for
review)
Result2.1General information of interview subjects
Fifteen patients were finally established for interview in this study.
The general information of the study population is shown in Table 1.
Table 1 General information of study subjects