Operation Room Pre‐Experience Service Willingness of Surgical Patients: A Mixed Method Research

ABSTRACT

Aim

To investigate surgical patients' willingness to engage in these services, their specific needs and the factors that influence their willingness.

Design

An exploratory, sequential, mixed‐method study employing semi‐structured interviews and cross‐sectional surveys.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected from 15 patients via semi‐structured interviews from August to November 2021. Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis was used to analyse interview data. The study collected quantitative data using the general information questionnaire, the questionnaire on willingness to participate in pre‐experience service in the operating room, the General Self‐Efficacy Scale and the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale, recruiting 600 patients from March to July 2022. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses identified factors.

Results

Fifteen patients were interviewed, and 10 agreed to participate in this service, citing reasons including stress relief, knowledge enhancement, cognitive shifts, identifying needs and enriching experiences. Five patients declined the pre‐experience service due to restricted mobility, increased anxiety, fear of complications and lack of motivation. A total of 562 valid questionnaires were collected, with a response rate of 93.7%. Of which, 393 expressed willingness to participate in the service. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that the willingness of patients to participate in the service was associated with several factors, including age, American Society of Anesthesiologists grades, social support, professional support, health literacy and self‐efficacy.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

This study delineates the willingness characteristics and influencing factors of surgical patients regarding the operating room pre‐experience service within the Chinese sociocultural context (e.g., unfamiliarity‐induced anxiety and passive information acceptance). The findings suggest that operating room nurses should integrate pre‐experience services into routine preoperative care, particularly by offering personalized options based on patients' preferences. Given the strong influence of social support, nurses are encouraged to involve family members and peer patients in promoting these services.

Impact

The study addressed the gap in understanding surgical patients' willingness to participate in a novel ‘operating room pre‐experience service’ and the influencing factors that willingness. The main findings showed that nearly 70% of surgical patients were willing to participate, with key influencing factors including age (< 60 years), lower ASA grades, higher health literacy and self‐efficacy and stronger social and professional support. This research offers a China‐oriented perspective on surgical patients' preoperative experience needs globally, contributing a valuable addition to the international literature on preoperative nursing and patient‐centred service design.

Reporting Method

This study is reported using Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS).

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

1. Introduction

Annually, over 300 million patients worldwide undergo surgical procedures (Nepogodiev et al. 2025). Recent statistical data from China indicate that the number of surgical patients has reached approximately 55.96 million. Surgery is increasingly acknowledged by patients as a significant method for the treatment of various diseases. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that surgical procedures carry inherent risks, including those associated with anaesthesia, surgical trauma, pain and potential postoperative complications. The condition renders patients susceptible to varying levels of physiological and psychological stress, which can impede the effective execution of surgical procedures (Pang et al. 2020). As individuals increasingly recognize the importance of their security, there has been a growing emphasis on preoperative awareness regarding fundamental surgical procedures, anaesthesia and related medical knowledge, which has become a primary concern for many patients. Orlando, a prominent nursing theorist, posits that when needs are satisfied, individuals can promptly alleviate or diminish their anxiety and pain, thereby sustaining a positive sense of self (Orlando 1990). When patients' needs are not adequately addressed, they may experience negative emotions that can adversely impact their physiological functions. Conversely, when their needs are met, they are more likely to maintain their health. Therefore, comprehending patients' needs is essential for enhancing the quality of nursing care. Mordiffi et al. categorized patients' preoperative needs into five distinct areas: those related to the surgical process, anaesthesia, the operating room environment, preoperative procedures and postoperative nursing requirements (Mordiffi et al. 2003). Additionally, Chinese scholar Zhou J. highlighted that a significant number of patients expressed a desire for information regarding the surgical process, anticipated pain, duration of the operation and postoperative rehabilitation nursing (Zhou and Yang 2018). Nevertheless, several studies conducted have shown that more than 70% of patients' preoperative informational needs concerning surgery remain inadequately addressed (Mohd et al. 2015; Stevens et al. 2019). Preoperative visits represent a nursing practice in which nurses employ a range of psychological and medical strategies to educate patients and their families about information pertinent to surgery, fundamental surgical procedures and perioperative precautions. Additionally, these visits facilitate interventions aimed at addressing patients' physiological and psychological states and behaviours prior to surgery (Pettersson et al. 2016). The provision of high‐quality nursing services in the operating room is a significant manifestation of effective healthcare delivery. Since the 1990s, preoperative visits have increasingly been established as a standard nursing service, which can mitigate the physiological and psychological stress responses of patients to a significant degree (Ursoleo et al. 2024).

Traditional methods of conducting preoperative visits, such as oral narration and the use of preoperative visit tables, are characterized by their conciseness and clarity. However, the absence of textbooks that delineate the responsibilities of itinerant nurses in relation to preoperative visits has resulted in hospitals not mandating the documentation of preoperative visit‐related records (Jauniaux et al. 2025). Consequently, nurses often undertake these visits as an ancillary task. Furthermore, the lack of standardized guidelines for preoperative visits limits the capacity and time available for operating room nurses to conduct thorough visits during regular working hours, leading to visits that are frequently perfunctory and superficial (Torres et al. 2021).

In recent years, scholars have sought to enhance the outcomes of preoperative visits by investigating innovative approaches, including the utilization of WeChat, short videos and other multimedia tools, as well as the application of virtual reality (VR) technology and familiarization with the operating room environment (Kadadhekar et al. 2025). Among these methods, VR offers a unique potential to create an immersive, first‐person simulation of the patient's journey from entering the operating room to anaesthesia induction. This allows patients to familiarize themselves with the environment and routine procedures in a controlled setting. However, these VR experiences are often generic, lacking personalization for individual patient conditions. The potential discrepancy between the virtual simulation and the actual sensory experiences of the operating room may limit its effectiveness in preventing stress responses (Frankiewicz et al. 2023). Therefore, it is imperative to explore experiential preoperative visit services that are grounded in the specific needs of patients to enhance their effectiveness. Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that preoperative visits to the operating room can address the informational needs of patients regarding surgical procedures and significantly alleviate their fear and anxiety (Li et al. 2001; Niknejad et al. 2019; Eslami et al. 2020; Amintojari et al. 2020). In 2001, Li Jinna conducted a study in which surgical patients were randomly assigned to either control or observation groups. Patients in the observation group were acquainted with the operating room environment 2–3 days prior to their surgery. The findings indicated that preoperative familiarization with the surrounding environment significantly reduced the anxiety levels of the patients (Li et al. 2001). In 2019, Reyhaneh Niknejad conducted a study in which 70 patients undergoing heart bypass surgery were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Members of the intervention group participated in an orientation tour prior to their surgery, while the control group received standard care. The findings indicated that the preoperative orientation tour had a beneficial effect on the patients' anxiety levels (Niknejad et al. 2019). However, the aforementioned studies were limited to the patients' experiences of the operating room environment and equipment, neglecting other important factors such as comfort in posture, prevention of hypothermia and management of lines and drains (e.g., urinary catheters, wound drains and intravenous lines). In the course of routine nursing practice, the research team identified additional patient needs beyond the operating room environment and equipment. For instance, some patients expressed uncertainty regarding the implementation of minimally invasive surgery. Additionally, certain patients were unable to lie flat on the operating table due to medical conditions, necessitating the use of specialized positional equipment to support physiological needs such as respiration. Patients requiring specific postures, particularly those receiving local anaesthesia, exhibited heightened demands for comfort during the surgical procedure. Furthermore, female patients demonstrated an increased need for warmth in areas such as the shoulders and feet. If these needs are only recognized immediately prior to surgery or are inadequately addressed, it may exacerbate patients' concerns regarding the surgical procedure, diminish their confidence in the operation and lead to negative experiences with medical services. Consequently, the research team aimed to develop a specialized nursing service termed ‘pre‐experience service in the operating room’.

The concept of ‘pre‐experience service in the operating room’ is currently absent from the existing literature. The term ‘pre‐experience’ was first introduced by British scholar Kniveton B. Hon in an article that investigated the impact of pre‐experience on children's imitative behaviour in the context of aggressive films (Kniveton and Stephenson 1970). Since then, the term has become increasingly relevant across various service sectors, including sales and tourism.

The primary objective of prioritizing patients and cultivating a humanized environment within the operating room has resulted in the establishment of the pre‐experience service in the operating room. This service is based on the voluntary participation of patients, wherein preoperative visiting nurses escort patients through unoccupied operating rooms prior to their surgical procedures. This initiative offers patients direct exposure to surgical‐related nursing services, thereby promoting a comprehensive and multifaceted understanding of their forthcoming experience. As a result, this approach allows healthcare providers to gain deeper insights into patients' needs and to make appropriate preoperative preparations.

This study employed a mixed‐method research approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of surgical patients' willingness to participate in pre‐experience services. Additionally, it aimed to explore and analyse the factors that influence their participation in such services. The findings of this research will assist medical professionals in developing a pre‐experience service plan that is informed by the perspectives of patients. This represents a significant advancement for medical institutions in delivering innovative pre‐experience services that address patient needs and mitigate the occurrence of surgery‐related adverse events.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Design

This study was designed as an exploratory sequential mixed‐methods investigation (see Figure 1). It employed semi‐structured interviews to gain insights into patients' willingness to participate in the pre‐experience service of the operating room, as well as the underlying reasons for their willingness. Quantitative research was conducted to elucidate the factors influencing this willingness. Furthermore, we adhered to the Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS) guidelines to present the findings of this research (see File S1) (Cameron et al. 2013).

FIGURE 1.

Exploratory sequential mixed‐method study design.

2.2. Measurement

2.2.1. Interview Guide

Guided by the phenomenological approach in qualitative research (Doyle et al. 2020), the initial interview guide was drafted based on a review of relevant literature, the study objectives and the researcher's professional experience. Preliminary interviews were conducted with two surgical patients. Based on the preliminary interviews, the purpose of the qualitative research and the discussion results among the group members, the interview outline was further adjusted and modified to finally form an operational interview outline: (1) How do you feel about this surgery now and how do you feel emotionally? (2) What do you know about the operating room or the surgical process and what preparations did you make for this surgery? (3) If there is a pre‐experience service for the operating room that was introduced to you earlier (briefly introduce the service content based on the ‘Operating Room Pre‐experience Service List’), would you like to participate? Why? (4) What do you think of the pre‐experience service in the operating room? Will it be helpful to you? (5) Under what circumstances would you consider participating in the pre‐experience service in the operating room?

Furthermore, the preliminary interviews revealed that both patients lacked accurate knowledge about the various stages of perioperative nursing care. Without concrete examples or a guided introduction to specific nursing services, patients found it challenging to comprehend the abstract concept of ‘operating room pre‐experience services’. Consequently, the research team decided to develop an ‘Operating Room Pre‐experience Service List’ to help patients better understand these services.

2.2.2. Operating Room Pre‐Experience Service List

As mentioned, to assist patients in gaining a clearer understanding of the operating room pre‐experience service content during interviews, the research team preliminarily developed the ‘Operating Room Pre‐experience Service List’ through literature review (Ruiz et al. 2021; Hooper et al. 2010). To ensure the list accurately reflected the specific context of the hospital's operating rooms, key personnel from various surgical specialty teams within the operating room department were invited to review the content. The reviewers included one male and four females, aged between 34 and 45 years. All held a bachelor's degree or higher and held the position of Charge Nurse. Their primary role involved circulating duties, with each managing over 500 cases annually. All reviewers expressed interest in the pre‐experience service and provided unique insights. The review feedback is summarized in File S2. Finally, after integrating suggestions from key specialty group personnel, the research team finalized the Operating Room Pre‐experience Service List, as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1.

Operating room pre‐experience service list.

Items	Pre‐experience contents
The Experience of Entering and Exiting the Operating Room	Patients receive instructions regarding their entry and exit from the operating room, preoperative preparation room and anaesthesia recovery room, as well as guidance on care during transportation and other related procedures.
The Experience of the Operating Room Environment	It is essential to inform patients about the location and configuration of the operating room, including details such as temperature, humidity, lighting conditions and the significance of surgical instrument alarm sounds, along with other pertinent information.
The Experience of Comfort Level in Positioning	Patients to assess the operating table, the surgical positioning and the comfort level of the mattress utilized during the procedure.
The Experience of Preventing Hypothermia	The introduction of warm blankets, heated air boxes, infusion warmers and similar devices is essential for maintaining optimal patient comfort and safety in clinical settings.
The Experience of Management of Lines and Drains (e.g., urinary catheters, wound drains and intravenous lines)	It is essential for patients to be informed about and comprehend the selection of venipuncture indwelling needles, as well as various drainage tubes, including urinary catheters, among others.
The Experience of Surgical Instruments	The introduction of the monitor, shadowless light, electric knife and ultrasonic knife, among other instruments, is presented.
The Experience of Surgical Consumables	The introduction of disposable and high‐value consumables, among other items, is discussed.
The Experience of Intraoperative Management	It is important to inform patients that we will routinely monitor the condition of the compressed skin and assess the input and output volumes, among other factors.
The Experience of Nursing in Relation to Anaesthesia	Introduction the various types of anaesthesia, their combinations, anaesthesia simulation techniques and the associated precautions.
The Experience of the Sample Submission Process	It is essential to inform patients about the process for submitting pathological specimens and related procedures.

2.3. Qualitative Research

2.3.1. Setting and Samples

In relation to the qualitative data collection target, purposive and maximum difference sampling methods were employed. Participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were invited to participate in interviews. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients who were hospitalized and underwent surgery in the surgical ward of The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China; (2) adults in China aged 18 years and older; (3) possessing the ability to provide accurate responses to inquiries. The exclusion criteria were delineated as follows: (1) patients who were in the acute phase of the illness or in critical condition necessitating continuous monitoring; (2) participants who were unable to communicate with the interviewer; or (3) individuals with a known diagnosis of dementia, psychiatric disorders or other neurodegenerative diseases. From August to October 2021, a total of 15 patients with varying ages, anaesthesia methods and other characteristics were interviewed, in accordance with the principle of patient data saturation. Among these participants, nine were in the preoperative phase. The inclusion of postoperative patients was considered essential, as they had recently experienced surgery and could provide valuable insights and perspectives regarding the surgical process. Consequently, six postoperative patients were also integrated into the study.

2.3.2. Data Collection

A senior nurse collected fundamental data from the medical records of the interviewed patients and conducted face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews in a quiet surgical ward. The interviews commenced after obtaining the patients' consent for simultaneous audio recording. During the interviews, the investigator meticulously observed and documented the facial and emotional expressions of the participants through their non‐verbal behaviours. Each interview lasted approximately 20–30 min. Subsequently, the audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and returned to the interviewees to ensure that the content of the data accurately reflected their experiences.

2.3.3. Data Analysis

The interview data were analysed utilizing Colaizzi's seven‐step analysis method (Colaizzi 1978). (1) Thoroughly review all interview transcripts, including annotated tone of voice and emotional changes of the patient respondents, and immerse oneself as fully as possible in the collected data. (2) Identify meaningful perspectives that reflect patients' psychological states, their perceptions and understanding of the operating room, as well as their reflections on the preoperative operating room experience, while avoiding the incorporation of the researcher's personal assumptions. (3) Code recurrent themes mentioned by multiple patient respondents regarding their willingness or reluctance to participate in the preoperative operating room experience. (4) Group similar perspectives described by the respondents into broad categories. (5) Provide a detailed and exhaustive description for each of these broad categories. (6) Carefully review and refine the grouped categories to prevent overlap or redundancy among similar themes. (7) Return the organized findings to the patient respondents for verification to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the data. Two researchers, who had systematically acquired knowledge of content analysis, independently read, analysed and discussed the interview data, ultimately refining the identified themes. In instances where consensus on the extracted themes could not be reached, an expert in qualitative research was consulted. The final determination of themes was achieved through discussion within the research group.

2.4. Quantitative Research

2.4.1. Setting and Samples

The subjects of the quantitative data collection comprised patients who were hospitalized for surgical procedures at The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China from March to July 2022. Individuals who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were subsequently invited to participate in the study. The inclusion criteria were established as follows: (1) Patients who provided informed consent for surgical procedures. (2) Adults in China aged 18 years and older. (3) Possess the ability to comprehend the Chinese language or respond to inquiries. The exclusion criteria for this study were delineated as follows: (1) Patients who were in the acute phase of the illness or in critical condition necessitating continuous monitoring. (2) Participants who were unable to communicate effectively with the researchers; or (3) individuals with a known diagnosis of dementia, psychiatric disorders or other neurodegenerative diseases. Prior to participation in the study, all participants provided informed consent by signing a consent form. The sample size was determined as follows. First, the sample size was calculated using the standard formula for cross‐sectional studies (Pourhoseingholi et al. 2013):

$$n=\frac{\mathit{pq}}{{\left(d/z_{\mathrm{\alpha }}\right)}^2}$$

Based on the qualitative survey results, the initial willingness rate was 66.7%; however, to ensure a conservative estimate, we used p = 0.5 for sample size calculation (Cochran 1977). With a margin of error d = 0.1, a significance level α = 0.05 and Z = 1.96, the minimum required sample size was determined to be 96 cases. Second, referring to the events‐per‐variable (EPV) rule for logistic regression (Althubaiti 2022; Austin et al. 2024), which recommends 10–15 events per independent variable, we prespecified 13 candidate variables and applied a conservative threshold of 15 events per variable, yielding a requirement of at least 195 valid cases. Accounting for an anticipated 30% invalid response rate among surgical patients due to postoperative fatigue and physical discomfort, the target sample size was adjusted to 195/0.70 = 279 cases. During the actual survey period (March–July 2022), all eligible patients were consecutively enrolled according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, without terminating enrolment upon reaching a predetermined sample size threshold. A total of 600 questionnaires were collected. After applying complete‐case analysis to exclude those with missing data, 562 valid responses were retained, representing an effective response rate of 93.7%. This effective sample size (562 cases) still substantially exceeded all predefined minimum requirements (96, 195 and 279 cases), thereby ensuring adequate statistical power, precision of estimates and generalizability of the findings (Bolarinwa 2020; Rosenblatt et al. 2024).

2.5. Measurements

2.5.1. General Information Questionnaire

According to the results of our interviews, we observed that younger patients with higher educational attainment exhibited greater engagement in acquiring knowledge related to their disease and surgical procedures, as well as a heightened willingness to participate in new services. Furthermore, the patients' surgical history and experiences with chronic illness significantly influenced their willingness to engage in pre‐experience service participation. Some postoperative patients expressed that, despite having undergone surgery, they remained unaware of the intraoperative circumstances due to anxiety and the effects of anaesthesia, so they sought to gain insights into the operating room environment through this service. Conversely, other patients perceived operating rooms as similar and deemed participation in this service unnecessary. Additionally, patients with chronic illnesses demonstrated reluctance to engage in pre‐experience services due to factors such as pain, dyspnoea and limitations in physical activity. In response to these findings, we developed a comprehensive patient information questionnaire comprising 11 items aimed at assessing various demographic and medical factors, including age, gender, educational attainment, occupation, place of residence (rural or urban), history of chronic illness, surgical status (preoperative or postoperative), surgical experience (whether or not surgery has been performed), anaesthesia methods (general anaesthesia, local anaesthesia, epidural block, subarachnoid block and others), American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades and sources of medical expenses (medical insurance, out‐of‐pocket expenses, business insurance and others).

2.5.2. Questionnaire on Willingness to Participate in Pre‐Experience Service in the Operating Room

In this study, social support is operationally defined as the recommendations provided by family members or peers for pre‐experience services, while professional support is characterized as the guidance offered by medical staff to patients concerning these services from a professional standpoint. Social support has been shown to enhance patients' positive behavioural intentions. As a significant source of disease‐related information, professional support from medical personnel also plays a crucial role in fostering patients' willingness to engage in medical and nursing services (Asiamah et al. 2022; Harji et al. 2023). Consequently, we identified social and professional support as potential influencing factors. In light of the interview findings, we developed the initial draft of the questionnaire, which comprised two sections: a survey assessing willingness to participate in the service and the Operating Room Pre‐experience Service List. The willingness survey included questions such as: ‘Are you willing to participate in the pre‐experience service of the operating room?’, ‘Will you participate in the pre‐experience service due to the recommendation of family members or peers (social support)?’ and ‘Will you participate in the pre‐experience service based on the recommendation of medical staff (professional support)?’ Regarding the Operating Room Pre‐experience Service List, detailed in Table 1, patients were asked to select the services they wished to learn about and experience based on their individual needs, utilizing a multiple‐choice format.

Five experts were invited to review the questionnaire. The selected individuals were all specialists in operating room practices, each possessing over 15 years of nursing experience and holding professional titles of nurse‐in‐charge or higher. Detailed information regarding the experts is provided in File S3. The experts were requested to provide feedback on the item categorization of the initial draft of the questionnaire and to offer their recommendations. For instance, Expert A expressed that the terms ‘social support’ and ‘professional support’ were challenging to comprehend and recommended that these concepts be articulated in more accessible language to enhance patient understanding. Expert E proposed that the phrase experience of the operating room environment should encompass the sounds of surgical instrument alarms. The final draft of the questionnaire is available in File S4.

2.5.3. The General Self‐Efficacy Scale

The level of self‐efficacy in individuals significantly influences their willingness to engage in certain behaviours, indicating that the plasticity of individual behaviour is contingent upon their current self‐efficacy levels (Plohl et al. 2022). Consequently, self‐efficacy may serve as a critical determinant for patients' participation in pre‐experience services. This study employed the Chinese version of the General Self‐Efficacy Scale (GSES), originally developed by Professor Schwarzer and colleagues and subsequently translated and revised by Wang in 2001 (Schwarzer and Born 1997; Wang et al. 2001). The scale comprises 10 items, all of which are unidimensional. Each item is evaluated on a 4‐point Likert scale, ranging from ‘not at all true’ to ‘completely true’, corresponding to scores of 1–4 points. Higher scores reflect a greater level of self‐efficacy. In this study, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale was found to be 0.722.

2.5.4. All Aspects of the Health Literacy Scale

Health literacy plays a crucial role in enhancing patient engagement in their own care. Low levels of health literacy can significantly impact patients' ability and willingness to participate in medical services (Sinojia et al. 2022). In this study, health literacy was assessed using the Chinese version of the All Aspects of the Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS) (Wu et al. 2017). This scale comprises 11 items organized into three subscales: the ability to utilize written health information, the ability to communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and the ability to evaluate and apply health information. Each item is rated on a 3‐point scale. Higher scores reflect greater levels of health literacy. The Cronbach's alpha for the total scale and its subscales was found to be 0.896 and between 0.882 and 0.893, respectively, indicating a high level of internal consistency.

2.6. Data Collection

After a brief introduction to the pre‐experience specific contents, two trained researchers, each holding a bachelor's degree or higher and possessing over 10 years of experience in the operating room, collected the questionnaires from patients either 1–3 days prior to surgery or 2–5 days post‐surgery. In cases where subjects were unable to complete the questionnaire independently, the researchers facilitated the process by asking the subjects to respond to the questions orally.

2.7. Data Analysis

Epidata version 3.1 was utilized for data entry and verification, while IBM SPSS version 24.0 software was employed for statistical analysis (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). The normality of continuous variables was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and since the results showed no significant deviations from normality, the measurement data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, whereas categorical data were expressed as frequency and constituent ratio. The willingness to participate in pre‐experience services was designated as the dependent variable, with age, gender, educational attainment, occupation, place of residence, history of chronic illness, social support, professional support, surgical experience, ASA grades, methods of anaesthesia, surgical status, source of medical expenses, health literacy and self‐efficacy serving as independent variables. A chi‐square test and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the influencing factors, with a significance level set at α = 0.05.

2.8. Ethical Approval

This study was conducted following a thorough review and approval by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the commencement of the study, and measures were implemented to ensure their privacy and anonymity were upheld.

3. Results

3.1. Qualitative Research Results

3.1.1. Interviewees' Demographic Characteristics

Among the 15 individuals interviewed, 10 patients expressed a willingness to participate in the pre‐experience service of the operating room, resulting in a willingness rate of 66.7%. The overall distribution of male and female participants was relatively balanced (see Table 2 for further details).

TABLE 2.

General information of the interviewees (n = 15).

Variable	Frequency	%
Age (years)
25–35	5	33.3
35–45	4	26.7
45–55	3	20
≥ 55	3	20
Gender
Male	8	53.3
Female	7	46.7
Educational attainment
Primary school education or below	4	26.7
Junior high school education	4	26.7
Senior high school education	1	6.7
Associate degree	2	13.3
Bachelor degree or above	4	26.7
Occupation
Farmer	4	26.7
Staff or civil servant	3	20
Retiree	1	6.7
The unemployed	1	6.7
Others	6	40
Surgical status
Preoperative	9	60
Postoperative	6	40
Methods of anaesthesia
General anaesthesia	9	60
Local anaesthesia	2	13.3
Epidural block	2	13.3
Subarachnoid block	2	13.3
Willingness
Agreed	10	66.7
Declined	5	33.3

3.1.2. Results of the Interview Data

The interview data revealed two primary themes regarding the willingness of the interviewed patients to participate in the pre‐experience service: ‘agreed’ and ‘declined’. Specific reasons for these responses were identified (see Table 3).

TABLE 3.

Reasons for patients' willingness and refusal to participate.

Themes	Specific reasons	Extracted content from interviews
Agreed	The alleviation of pressure and the enhancement of self‐confidence	‘I believe that pre‐experience service involves becoming more familiar with the operating room, making all the necessary preparations, and even if it is merely to alleviate some fear, that is beneficial’ (S2) ‘If I could visit the operating room before my surgery, it would help alleviate some of my nerves about the procedure the following day, at least mentally’ (S3)
	The enhancement of knowledge and the fulfilment of curiosity	‘Anyway, we typically do not visit the operating room frequently throughout our lives. If you can gain more knowledge in advance, that would certainly be beneficial’ (S7) ‘I am genuinely curious about the operating room. I want to understand its functions and processes in case I feel confused after the operation. It is beneficial to acquire knowledge that cannot be found in textbooks’ (S11)
	The transformation of cognition	‘I watched some surgical experiences on the internet and felt a little scared. If I can see the operating room in advance, there should be no significant difference in my psychological state when I operate tomorrow’ (S7) ‘I have researched surgery on the Internet, but I am unsure of its accuracy. After undergoing the procedure, I realized that it differs somewhat from what I had expected. I wish I had access to the service you mentioned prior to my surgery’ (S11)
	Identifying potential needs	‘When I enter the operating room, I see several men. I am not nervous, but I do feel embarrassed because the surgery is on a private area’ (S6) ‘When I entered the operating room, no one spoke to me for a long time, and I didn't know what I should do. I just waited there, feeling extremely nervous and scared’ (S9)
	Enriching and imparting the experience	‘In the future, when my relatives and friends undergo surgery, I will draw upon this experience to provide them with better comfort’ (S2) ‘I believe it enriches my life experience. Society is continually improving; previously, I had never heard of anyone being allowed to enter the operating room in advance’ (S11)
Declined	The inability to move freely	‘If I had not had the catheter, I would have gone to the operating room in advance’ (S5) ‘Look at my legs. I don't want to go anywhere except to lie down. If my legs were in good condition, I would sign up’ (S14)
	An increase in feelings of nervousness and fear	‘Perhaps I feel more apprehensive after the visit; I am feeling somewhat timid’ (S8) ‘There is no need to go, people who are afraid will still be afraid, it is not allowed to visit will be more afraid and sleepless’ (S15)
	The apprehension of creating difficulties	‘I do not wish to visit, it is too inconvenient’ (S4) ‘This is quite troublesome, I would prefer to have some quiet in the ward’ (S8)
	Lack of motivation	‘I am too old to be interested in these things. If I were a teenager and had not undergone surgery, I would probably want to go’ (S8) ‘I am nearly 60 years old and do not want to know too much information’ (S15)

3.2. Quantitative Research Results

3.2.1. Respondents' Demographic Characteristics

A total of 600 survey questionnaires were distributed for this study. After applying complete‐case analysis to exclude questionnaires with any missing data, 562 valid responses were retained, resulting in an effective response rate of 93.7%. Among the respondents, 283 (50.4%) identified as male, with an average age of 44.70 years. The majority of participants were under 60 years of age, comprising 80.4% of the sample. Furthermore, a significant proportion of the respondents had an educational attainment of junior high school or higher (82.4%), reported no history of chronic diseases (77.2%) and possessed medical insurance (81%) (refer to Table 4 for additional details).

TABLE 4.

Demographic characteristics of surgical inpatients (n = 562).

Variable	Frequency	Percentage
Age (years)
18–30	108	19.2
31–45	198	35.2
46–60	146	26.0
> 60	110	19.6
Gender
Male	283	50.4
Female	279	49.6
Educational attainment
Primary school education or below	99	17.6
Junior high school education	132	23.5
Senior high school education	72	12.8
Associate degree	143	25.4
Bachelor degree or above	116	20.6
Place of residence
Rural	187	33.3
Urban	375	66.7
Occupation
Farmer	113	20.1
Student	27	4.8
Staffs or civil servant	157	27.9
Freelancer	146	26.0
Retiree	48	8.5
Surgical status
Preoperative	297	52.8
Postoperative	265	47.2
History of chronic illness
Present	128	22.8
Absent	434	77.2
Surgical experience
Present	295	52.5
Absent	267	47.5
Methods of anaesthesia
General anaesthesia	427	76.0
Local anaesthesia	48	8.5
Epidural block	47	8.4
Subarachnoid block	34	6.0
Others	6	1.1
ASA grades
ASA 2	28	5.0
ASA3	147	26.2
ASA4	244	43.4
ASA5	143	25.4
Sources of medical expenses
Medical insurance	455	81.0
Out of pocket	83	14.8
Business insurance	16	2.8
Others	8	1.4

3.2.2. Willingness of Surgical Patients to Participate in Pre‐Experience Service in the Operating Room

In this study, a total of 393 patients, representing 69.9% of the sample, expressed a willingness to participate in the pre‐experience service. Among the 169 patients who declined participation, 35 individuals (20.7%) indicated a willingness to engage in the service due to the encouragement of family members or peers, while 53 individuals (31.4%) cited support from medical staff and other professionals as a motivating factor for their potential participation.

3.2.3. Demand Items for the Operating Room Pre‐Experience Service List for Surgical Patients

The top four categories of items that patients were willing to participate in included experiences associated with anaesthesia nursing, the utilization of surgical equipment, the procedures for entering and exiting the operating room and the management of surgical consumables (refer to Figure 2).

FIGURE 2.

Demanded items and number of persons in the operating room pre‐experience service (n = 562).

3.2.4. Influencing Factors of Surgical Patients' Willingness to Participate in Operating Room Pre‐Experience Service

3.2.4.1. Univariate Analysis

We performed univariate analysis with adjustment for Type I errors using the false discovery rate (FDR) method. Variables with an FDR‐adjusted p‐value < 0.10 were considered statistically significant and retained for subsequent analysis. This process led to the exclusion of one variable (gender, adjusted p‐value = 0.568), as detailed in Table 5. Subsequently, a chi‐squared split test was applied to the remaining polytomous variables. Based on the test results, we merged categories for the following variables: age, educational level, occupation, ASA grades, anaesthesia methods and source of medical expenses. These recoded variables were then re‐analysed using univariate analysis with willingness to participate as the dependent variable. This secondary screening step led to the exclusion of the occupation (Adjusted p‐value = 0.646) and medical insurance variable (Adjusted p‐value = 0.111), as shown in Table 6.

TABLE 5.

Univariate analysis results of the willingness to participate in the operating room pre‐experience service (n = 562).

Variables	Subgroups of variables	Participation willingness		χ 2	p	Adjusted p (q‐value)
		Yes (n = 393), n (%)	No (n = 169), n (%)
Age (years)*	18–30	89 (82.4)	19 (17.6)	58.739	< 0.001	0.002
	31–45	155 (78.3)	43 (21.7)
	46–60	104 (71.2)	42 (28.8)
	≥ 60	45 (40.9)	65 (59.1)
Gender	Male	201 (71.0)	82 (29.1)	0.326	0.568	0.568
	Female	192 (68.8)	87 (31.2)
Educational attainment*	Primary School Education or Below	39 (39.4)	60 (60.6)	69.058	< 0.001	0.002
	Junior High School Education	90 (68.2)	42 (31.8)
	Senior High School Education	55 (76.4)	17 (23.6)
	Associate Degree	109 (76.2)	34 (23.8)
	Bachelor Degree or Above	100 (86.2)	16 (13.8)
Occupation*	Farmer	57 (50.4)	56 (49.6)	46.763	< 0.001	0.002
	Student	22 (81.5)	5 (18.5)
	Staff or civil servant	129 (82.2)	28 (17.8)
	Freelancer	110 (75.3)	36 (24.7)
	Retiree	23 (47.9)	25 (52.1)
	Others	52 (73.2)	19 (26.8)
Place of residence	Rural	104 (55.6)	83 (44.4)	27.306	< 0.001	0.002
	Urban	289 (77.1)	86 (22.9)
History of chronic illness	Present	316 (72.8)	118 (27.2)	7.528	0.006	0.009
	Absent	77 (60.2)	51 (39.8)
Social support	Present	360 (91.1)	35 (8.9)	284.386	< 0.001	0.002
	Absent	33 (19.8)	134 (80.2)
Professional support	Present	369 (87.4)	53 (12.6)	247.049	< 0.001	0.002
	Absent	24 (17.1)	116 (82.9)
Surgical status	Preoperative	218 (73.4)	79 (26.6)	3.610	0.057	0.062
	Preoperative	175 (66.0)	90 (34.0)
Surgical experience	Present	218 (73.9)	77 (26.1)	4.653	0.031	0.04
	Absent	175 (65.5)	92 (34.5)
Methods of anaesthesia*	General Anaesthesia	281 (65.8)	146 (34.2)	14.875	0.005	0.008
	Local Anaesthesia	38 (79.2)	10 (20.8)
	Epidural Block	40 (85.1)	7 (14.9)
	Subarachnoid Block	29 (85.3)	5 (14.7)
	Others	5 (83.3)	1 (16.7)
ASA grades*	ASA 2	21 (75.0)	7 (25.0)	58.231	< 0.001	0.002
	ASA 3	118 (80.3)	29 (19.7)
	ASA 4	190 (77.9)	54 (22.1)
	ASA 5	64 (44.8)	79 (55.2)
Medical Expenses Sources*	Health care	311 (68.4)	144 (31.6)	7.736	0.052	0.061
	Out of pocket	60 (72.3)	23 (27.7)
	Business insurance	16 (100.0)	0 (0.0)
	Others	6 (75.0)	2 (25.0)

Note: Variables denoted by an asterisk (*) were subjected to cross chi‐squared analysis. The ASA classification follows the clinically established American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status system. The age category of ≥ 60 years is based on the official Chinese standard for defining the elderly population.

TABLE 6.

Results of univariate analysis were repeated after the cross chi‐square split test.

Variables	Subgroups of variables	Participation willingness		χ 2	p	Adjusted p (q‐value)
		Yes (n = 393), n (%)	No (n = 169), n (%)
Age (years)	< 60	348 (77.0)	104 (23.0)	54.774	< 0.001	0.002
	≥ 60	45 (40.9)	65 (59.1)
Educational attainment	Primary and below	39 (39.4)	60 (60.6)	53.282	< 0.001	0.002
	Others	354 (76.5)	109 (23.5)
Occupation	Farmer&Clerk&Civil Servant	186 (68.9)	84 (31.1)	0.267	0.646	0.646
	Others	207 (70.9)	85 (29.1)
Place of residence	Rural	104 (55.6)	83 (44.4)	27.306	< 0.001	0.002
	Urban	289 (77.1)	86 (22.9)
History of chronic illness	Present	316 (72.8)	118 (27.2)	7.528	0.006	0.009
	Absent	77 (60.2)	51 (39.8)
Social support	Present	360 (91.1)	35 (8.9)	284.386	< 0.001	0.002
	Absent	33 (19.8)	134 (80.2)
Professional support	Present	369 (87.4)	53 (12.6)	247.049	< 0.001	0.002
	Absent	24 (17.1)	116 (82.9)
Surgical status	Preoperative	218 (73.4)	79 (26.6)	3.610	0.057	0.068
	Preoperative	175 (66.0)	90 (34.0)
Surgical experience	Present	218 (73.9)	77 (26.1)	4.653	0.031	0.041
	Absent	175 (65.5)	92 (34.5)
Methods of anaesthesia	General anaesthesia	281 (65.8)	146 (34.2)	14.355	< 0.001	0.002
	Other methods	112 (83.0)	23 (17.9)
ASA grades	ASA 2–4	329 (78.5)	90 (21.5)	57.802	< 0.001	0.002
	ASA 5	64 (44.8)	79 (55.2)
Medical expenses sources	Health care	311 (68.4)	144 (31.6)	2.827	0.102	0.111
	Others	82 (76.6)	25 (23.4)

3.2.4.2. Binary Logistic Regression Analysis

All variables that demonstrated statistical significance in the prior screening steps were included in the binary logistic regression analysis. Except for general health literacy and self‐efficacy scores, which were treated as continuous variables, all other independent variables were dichotomously coded (refer to Table 7).

TABLE 7.

Variable assignments for binary logistic regression analysis.

Code	Variable description	Assignment
Y	Willingness to participate in the or pre‐experience service	No = 0, Yes = 1
X1	Age	< 60 years (comprising 18–30, 31–45 and 46–60 years) = 1, ≥ 60 years = 2
X2	Educational attainment	Primary School Education or Below = 0, Junior High School Education, Senior High School Education, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree or Above = 1
X3	Place of residence	Rural = 1, Urban = 2
X4	History of chronic illness	No = 1, Yes = 2
X5	Social support	No = 0, Yes = 1
X6	Professional support	No = 0, Yes = 1
X7	Surgical status	Preoperative = 1, Preoperative = 2
X8	Surgical experience	Yes = 1, No = 2
X9	Methods of anaesthesia	General anaesthesia = 1, Other methods (Local, Epidural, Spinal and Others) = 2
X10	ASA grades	ASA 2–4 = 1, ASA 5
X11	Health literacy	Continuous variable
X12	Self‐efficacy	Continuous variable

The model's goodness‐of‐fit was comprehensively evaluated. The nonsignificant Hosmer‐Lemeshow test result (p = 0.347, df = 8) indicated an adequate fit without substantial deviation from the observed data. The model fit was further supported by a −2 log‐likelihood (−2LL) value of 301.074, along with Cox & Snell R ² and Nagelkerke R ² values of 0.497 and 0.704, respectively. To assess multicollinearity, we calculated the variance inflation factor (VIF) for all independent variables; all values were below 3, indicating no significant multicollinearity that could compromise the stability of the regression estimates. Furthermore, the model demonstrated excellent discriminative ability, with an overall correct classification rate of 90.0%. The detailed results are provided in File S5.

The final regression results, detailed in Table 8, identified that age, ASA grade, social support, professional support, health literacy and self‐efficacy were significantly associated with surgical patients' willingness to engage in the pre‐experience service.

TABLE 8.

Binary logistic regression analysis of the willingness to participate in the pre‐experience service (n = 562).

	B	SE	Wald	p	OR	95% CI
Age	−1.080	0.446	5.862	0.015	0.339	0.142–0.814
Educational attainment	0.879	0.457	3.704	0.054	2.409	0.984–5.895
Place of residence	−0.200	0.351	0.325	0.569	0.819	0.411–1.630
History of chronic illness	0.385	0.397	0.939	0.333	1.470	0.674–3.202
Surgical status	−0.091	0.325	0.079	0.779	0.913	0.482–1.727
Surgical experience	0.440	0.331	1.769	0.183	1.552	0.812–2.967
Methods of anaesthesia	0.294	0.0399	0.545	0.460	1.342	0.614–2.934
ASA grades	−0.936	0.357	6.881	0.009	0.392	0.195–0.789
Social support	3.178	0.453	49.176	< 0.001	23.989	9.870–58.306
Professional support	0.969	0.467	4.313	0.038	2.635	1.056–6.577
Health literacy	1.719	0.493	12.137	< 0.001	5.579	2.121–14.674
Self efficacy	1.207	0.277	19.027	< 0.001	3.342	1.943–5.747

4. Discussion

The findings of this survey indicated that 69.9% of patients expressed a desire for pre‐operative services and demonstrated a strong willingness to participate. Qualitative findings provided profound insights into this demand, revealing that patients' motivation stems from a desire for psychological preparedness and clarity of information. The most requested service was anaesthesia, which is understandable, as surgery is often synonymous with anaesthesia in patients' minds, leading to numerous inquiries about its procedures and side effects. This aligns with Liu et al., who found that higher expectations for surgical outcomes increase demands for specific anaesthesia techniques (Liu et al. 2018). Notably, our interview data underpin this quantitative finding. Patients who agreed to participate explicitly stated that such a service could ‘alleviate some fear’ (S3) and enhance their confidence by ‘becoming more familiar with the operating room’ (S2). This qualitative evidence strongly suggests that the high demand for anaesthesia information is not merely academic but is deeply rooted in the need for emotional reassurance, a dimension that quantitative data alone cannot fully capture. Furthermore, the desire to enhance knowledge, as expressed through ‘the fulfilment of curiosity’ (S11) and the ‘transformation of cognition’ (S7, S11) to correct Internet‐derived misconceptions, explains their interest in surgical equipment and procedures. The innovation of medical instruments may enhance this phenomenon, as patients increasingly seek to familiarize themselves with novel technologies that they do not fully understand (Shang et al. 2024).

The findings of this study indicate that patients under the age of 60, who possess lower ASA grades along with higher levels of health literacy and self‐efficacy, represent a potential demographic for pre‐experience services. The interviews revealed that older patients and those with limited mobility were often unwilling to participate, primarily due to reasons such as the ‘inability to move freely’ (S5, S14) and a ‘lack of motivation’ due to advanced age (‘I am nearly 60 years old and do not want to know too much information’—S15). This phenomenon may be attributed to several factors, including advanced age, the complexity of the surgical procedures and significant psychological burdens. Interviews revealed that older patients prefer to avoid disturbances, concentrating solely on the treatment outcomes of their conditions. They often perceive participation in these services as a potential inconvenience for both themselves and the medical staff (‘I do not wish to visit; it is too inconvenient’—S4, ‘This is quite troublesome; I would prefer to have some quiet in the ward’—S8), leading to a lack of interest in understanding these services. This observation aligns with the findings of Zhang WJ, who noted that elderly individuals are influenced by multiple factors, resulting in a markedly lower level of participation in social services compared to their younger counterparts (Zhang and Zhao 2015). Older adults exhibit a pronounced tendency to adopt passive psychological defence mechanisms such as avoidance and resignation (Fu et al. 2020). In contrast, younger patients' curiosity and willingness to gain knowledge, as seen in our qualitative data, indicate greater openness to new experiences. Research has indicated that patients aged 50 years and younger show a higher level of interest in and involvement with new health services compared to those over the age of 50 (Mu et al. 2025).

Health literacy is defined as the capacity of individuals to acquire, comprehend and process fundamental information or services, enabling them to make informed health‐related decisions. Research has demonstrated that low health literacy can hinder both the ability and willingness of patients to engage in medical service activities, resulting in a passive role during the participation process. Conversely, patients with high health literacy tend to interact more effectively with medical personnel throughout their engagement (Sinojia et al. 2022). This study indicated that patients exhibiting high health literacy are more inclined to participate in pre‐experience services. Interview results directly support this, as patients who were willing to participate in these services viewed the service as a means to ‘acquire knowledge’ (S11) and ‘gain more knowledge in advance’ (S7), demonstrating proactive information‐seeking behaviour. Similarly, this inclination may stem from the understanding that the adoption and maintenance of health behaviours significantly influence health outcomes (Yu et al. 2023). Self‐efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute a specific behaviour and attain a desired outcome. Research has demonstrated that self‐efficacy positively influences patient behaviour (Plohl et al. 2022). This study indicates that patients with elevated self‐efficacy scores exhibit a greater willingness to engage in these services, which is echoed in the qualitative theme of enhanced self‐confidence, where patients believed they could make ‘all the necessary preparations’ (S2). This phenomenon may be attributed to the fact that individuals with high self‐efficacy are more inclined to adopt positive health behaviours, thereby enhancing their health outcomes.

The findings indicate that social support exerts the most significant influence on patients' willingness to engage in pre‐experience services. Our qualitative data powerfully illustrate this quantitative finding. Patients not only received support but also saw themselves as future providers of social support. One participant (S2) stated that they would ‘draw upon this experience to provide [their] relatives and friends with better comfort’ and another (S11) saw it as enriching their life experience. Social support encompasses both the subjective and objective effects of social relationships on individuals. Although professional support also affects patients' willingness, its impact is markedly less pronounced than that of social support. Research has demonstrated that patients who seek information about their conditions from relatives and friends exhibit a higher motivation to participate in medical services compared to those who rely solely on medical professionals (Zhou et al. 2019). This phenomenon may be attributed to the tendency of hospitalized patients to prefer advice and assistance from family members when making decisions, or to the influence of peers who provide both informational and emotional support. Furthermore, it has been established that support from peers and family can enhance patients' understanding and health‐related behaviours (Huang et al. 2025). Consequently, hospitals should consider leveraging the involvement of patients' relatives and friends, or harnessing the influence of peers, to promote pre‐experience services in the future.

5. Implication

Based on the findings of this study, several considerations may inform the future design of operating room pre‐experience services. First, in practical implementation, nurses should remain attuned to individual patient preferences, given the considerable heterogeneity observed in willingness and needs across participants. For patients who are reluctant to engage, traditional preoperative approaches, such as verbal education, written educational materials or multimedia tools, may remain appropriate alternatives. Conversely, for those who express interest, a buffet service could be offered, wherein a curated menu of informational and experiential options is provided, enabling patients to actively select components and thereby construct a personalized preparation plan that aligns with their unique preferences and needs (Wei et al. 2026). Second, patients under 60 years of age, with lower ASA grades and higher levels of health literacy and self‐efficacy, may demonstrate greater willingness to participate; thus, they could be prioritized in future promotional initiatives. Third, given that anaesthesia nursing, surgical equipment, operating room access and surgical consumables were the items most frequently requested by patients, service developers should prioritize these components when designing intervention protocols. Finally, the strong positive association between social support and willingness suggests that involving family members or peer patients in the promotion of these services may confer additional benefits. It should be noted, however, that these recommendations remain preliminary and warrant further implementation research to validate their feasibility and effectiveness within routine clinical practice.

6. Limitations

This study acknowledges several limitations: (1) The research was confined to a single hospital in Anhui Province for patient interviews and surveys. The restricted sampling may lead to selection bias and lack of clustering adjustment; the results could differ depending on the region or hospital tier. Future work should consider expanding to multiple centres across broader regions to enhance the sample's representativeness. (2) The potential influencing factors affecting patients' willingness to participate in pre‐experience services were primarily identified through interviews and a review of the literature. However, this selection is not exhaustive. Future research is necessary to explore additional factors that may impact this willingness, such as patients' self‐care abilities; and (3) This study may exhibit bias due to the absence of a psychological assessment scale to evaluate the mental states of patients. The decision to forgo such assessments was influenced by the concern that the use of multiple scales could impose an excessive burden on the patients. In future research, it is advisable to select standardized measurement instruments when circumstances permit, in order to collect relevant data effectively.

7. Conclusion

Patients expressed a willingness to participate in the pre‐experience service for five primary reasons: stress relief, knowledge acquisition, cognitive transformation, identification of potential needs and the enhancement and sharing of experiences. Conversely, the reasons cited for declining participation included restricted mobility, heightened anxiety and concern, apprehension regarding challenges and a lack of motivation. Notably, 69.9% of surgical patients indicated a desire to engage in the pre‐experience service. The most frequently requested components of the pre‐experience service included anaesthesia‐related nursing experience, familiarity with surgical equipment, experience with operating room entry and exit and exposure to surgical consumables. This service is specifically designed for patients under the age of 60 who possess low ASA grades, high levels of health literacy and self‐efficacy, as well as robust social and professional support systems. Such patients represent the ideal candidates for the pre‐experience service. Social support plays a crucial role in enhancing patients' willingness to participate in pre‐experience services. The implementation of these services should be tailored to align with patients' preferences, ensuring that personalized services are delivered in accordance with the specific desires of each individual patient.

Author Contributions

Yuling Zhou: writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, methodology, investigation. Qingqing Chen: writing – review and editing, project administration. Ting Wang: writing – review and editing. Chuang Qin: writing – review and editing, software, project administration. Yuqi Peng: formal analysis, validation. Dan Zhang: investigation, funding acquisition. Rongzhu Chen: resources, supervision. Panpan Qiu: investigation, validation. Mingran Xie: funding acquisition. Guiqi Song: methodology, supervision. Lunfang Xie: conceptualization, methodology, supervision.

Funding

This project was funded by ‘Anhui Zhongji Guoyi Medical Technology Co. Ltd’ Open Program of Hospital Management Institute, Anhui Medical University (No. 2024gykjgx12) and the Key Research and Development Program of Population Health in Anhui Province (Grant/Award Number: 202004j07020017) and the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project (Grant/Award Number: 202210366033).

Ethics Statement

This study was conducted following a thorough review and approval by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Approval No. 202112291027000556076). Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the commencement of the study, and measures were implemented to ensure their privacy and anonymity were upheld.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Supporting information

File S1: The good reporting of a mixed method study (1).

File S2: Summary of review comments from key members of the specialty groups.

File S3: Table 1 General information of professionals.

File S4: Questionnaire on willingness to participate in pre‐experience service in the operating room.

File S5: Table 1 Hosmer‐Lemeshow test.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.