Abstract / Summary
Abstract Aims: To identify key health management needs of patients undergoing thyroid tumor day surgery at various stages of diagnosis and treatment based on the patient journey map, and to explore entry points for optimizing comprehensive care services throughout the disease course. Design: Qualitative study. Methods: From May 2025 to May 2026,14 patients undergoing thyroid tumor day surgery were selected as study subjects using purposive sampling at a tertiary hospital in Nanchang. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and descriptive qualitative research, followed by content analysis. Results: Spanning the full continuum of the diagnostic and treatment trajectory, the health management experiences of ambulatory thyroid tumor patients were systematically synthesized into 19 distinct sub-themes across four interconnected domains: tasks, emotional trajectories, pain points (unmet needs), and involved stakeholders. These core sub-themes prominently illuminated critical clinical entry points, including systemic disease-specific knowledge deficits, complex clinical decision-making dilemmas, multidimensional post-operative symptom clusters, and tailored home-care dietary management requirements. Based on these empirical dimensions, a comprehensive health management patient journey map was successfully constructed. Conclusion: The developed patient journey map for thyroid tumor day surgery patients clarifies intervention priorities, providing a reference for the development and refinement of health management tools for thyroid tumor patients in China. Reporting Method: The study adheres to the Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: Patients Undergoing Day Surgery for Thyroid Tumor