"Why must I get an infection, especially after surgery?" opportunities for patient engagement in infection care.

Objective: We explored the awareness, perspectives, and experiences of patients and healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding opportunities for surgical patients to engage in infection care.

Design: Qualitative research design.

Setting: Tertiary academic hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Participants: 79 patients and 22 carers were observed during interactions with HCPs, and interviews were conducted with 19 patients, 3 carers, and 8 HCPs.

Methods: Data were collected through nonparticipant observations of surgical wound care and patient consultations, and in-depth semi-structured interviews using data collection guides. Data were coded inductively, aided by NVivo software (version 14) and themes identified.

Findings: Three main themes emerged from the data: patient's healthcare knowledge following surgery, patients' experiences of surgical site infection, and patients' experiences as users of the healthcare system. Care discussions were largely driven by the doctor, and focused on the patient's condition, associated diagnostic tests and medicines, and wound care. Patients' contributions were mostly passive, as recipients of information and respondents to doctors' questions. Most patients expected HCPs to initiate engagement and were unaware of healthcare-associated infections before developing one.

Conclusions: Our data highlight a need to strengthen postdischarge wound care. The presentation and delivery of information in patient-facing and relatable formats can improve patient and carer understanding of surgical infection risks and care, and help support and advance patients' roles as co-stakeholders in infection care for improved health outcomes.