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