# ‘How Does Nothing Show Up When I'm in So Much Agony?’: A Qualitative Study Exploring Patient Experiences of Non‐Specific Abdominal Pain in Acute Surgical Care

## TL;DR

This study explores how patients with non-specific abdominal pain experience acute surgical care, highlighting communication issues and the need for better follow-up.

## Contribution

The study provides novel insights into patient experiences with non-specific abdominal pain in acute surgical settings, emphasizing psychosocial factors and communication gaps.

## Key findings

- Patients often experience uncertainty and fear when seeking care for non-specific abdominal pain.
- Mixed communication from healthcare providers leads to confusion and dissatisfaction among patients.
- Lack of follow-up and persistent symptoms contribute to ongoing distress for some patients.

## Abstract

Non‐specific abdominal pain is a common and diagnostically challenging presentation in acute care, yet little is known about patient experiences within this setting. This study explores the experiences of patients attending a surgical same‐day emergency care (SDEC) unit with non‐specific abdominal pain.

Qualitative descriptive study using inductive thematic analysis.

23 adults (aged ≥ 18 years) presenting with acute non‐specific abdominal pain to a surgical SDEC in England were purposively sampled. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted at least 2 weeks after discharge and thematically analysed inductively, iteratively and collaboratively by a team of psychiatrists, surgeons and a lived experience co‐researcher.

Three themes were identified: (1) The journey to the SDEC—participants described uncertainty and fear about potential diagnoses and varied thresholds for help‐seeking, (2) The consultation—while many appreciated rapid access to care, experiences of communication and explanation were mixed, with some feeling dismissed or confused by the absence of a clear diagnosis, and (3) Post‐consultation reflections—some felt reassured by normal test results, while others struggled with persistent symptoms, a lack of follow‐up, and ongoing uncertainty. Discussions around psychosocial factors were rare.

Acute non‐specific abdominal pain can be distressing for patients, even after attending acute surgical services, particularly when communication is perceived to be unclear and follow‐up is inconsistent. A more structured, patient‐centred approach, including standardised follow‐up, clear explanations and sensitivity to psychosocial factors, could improve experiences and possibly outcomes for this group.

A patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group, comprising individuals with lived and living experience of persistent physical symptoms, shaped the scope and design of the research and co‐produced the interview topic guide. A lived experience representative was actively involved in data analysis, interpretation and manuscript preparation.