PURPOSE
The study's objective was the clinical validation of the nursing diagnosis Risk for delayed surgical recovery (00246).
METHOD
Case control study was conducted in a university hospital; the charts of 239 patient, 71 cases and 168 controls. Odds ratio was calculated for the association between each risk factor and the outcome of delayed surgical recovery.
RESULTS
Risk factors with higher odds of association were malnutrition, pain, and postoperative emotional response. The associated conditions were perioperative surgical site infection, psychological disorder in the postoperative period, and surgical site contamination.
CONCLUSION
Risk factors have different impact on the postoperative recovery.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Knowing the magnitude of the risk factors allows a decision making best interventions for a fast surgical recovery.