Table 1 Participant demographics and transition in care details

Mean age (range)

76 (65–85)

Gender, n (%)

Man – 6 (50)

Woman – 6 (50)

CFS score, n (%)

4 [vulnerable] – 6 (50)

5 [mildly frail] – 6 (50)

Hospital length of stay, n (%)

1–2 days – 1 (8)

7–8 days – 1 (8)

3–4 days – 5 (41)

29 days – 1 (8)

5–6 days – 4 (33)

Surgical specialty, n (%)

Thoracic – 3 (25)

Urology – 3 (25)

General – 2 (17)

Gyne-oncology – 1 (8)

Vascular – 2 (17)

Otolaryngology – 1 (8)

Number of comorbidities, n (%)

1–5 comorbidities—6 (50)

6–10 comorbidities—3 (25)

11–15 comorbidities—3 (25)

Clavien Dindo classification of postoperative complications, n (%) (this tool is used to classify the severity of postoperative surgical complications) [47]

None—4 (33.5)

Mild—3 (25)

Moderate—4 (33.5)

Severe—1 (8)

Caregiver support, n (%)

Spouse – 7 (58)

Adult child (living separately) – 4 (33)

Adult child (living together) – 1 (8)

Time between sugery and interview, n (%)

3 months – 2 (16)          7 months – 1 (8)

4 months – 2 (16)          9 months – 4 (33)

5 months – 2 (16)          10 months – 1 (8)

Ethnicity, n (%)

White – 12 (100)

Highest education level, n (%)

Primary school or less – 1 (8)

Some high school – 1 (8)

Completed high school – 4 (33)

Some college/university but did not finish – 2 (17)

Undergraduate diploma/degree from college/university – 2 (17)

Graduate school – 2 (17)