The post-discharge transitional period is a critical stage following sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer, during which patients transition from hospital-based treatment to home-based rehabilitation; however, their experiences and rehabilitation needs during this period remain insufficiently understood.

To explore the experiences and rehabilitation needs of patients during the post-discharge transitional period after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer.

This study employed a descriptive qualitative design. From April to October 2025, 17 patients who had undergone sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and within 6 months post-discharge were recruited from the gastrointestinal surgery outpatient clinic of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, managed using NVivo 12 software, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Six themes were identified: (1) Symptom burden and multiple physical discomforts during the post-discharge transitional period; (2) A complex process of psychological adaptation; (3) Insufficient information support and self-management through trial and error after discharge; (4) Support experiences involving family, peers, and healthcare professionals; (5) Restricted social participation and hindered role resumption; (6) An urgent need for continuous and individualized rehabilitation support.

Patients during the post-discharge transitional period after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer face multiple challenges, including physical distress, psychological stress, difficulties in self-management, and insufficient access to authoritative information and professional support. Based on the study findings, healthcare professionals should provide continuous, timely, and individualized rehabilitation support during this period. Furthermore, continuity-of-care pathways linking hospital and community services should be actively explored to facilitate functional recovery and social role reconstruction.

出院过渡期是直肠癌保肛术后患者由医院治疗转向居家康复的关键阶段，但目前对于患者在这一阶段的真实体验及康复需求尚缺乏深入了解。

探讨直肠癌保肛术后患者在出院过渡期内的真实体验与康复需求。

本研究采用质性研究设计。于2025年4—10月，采用目的抽样法选取复旦大学附属华山医院胃肠外科门诊随访的17例出院时间≤6个月的直肠癌保肛术后患者为研究对象。通过半结构式访谈收集资料。采用NVivo 12软件管理文本资料，并运用主题分析法进行编码与主题提炼。

访谈共归纳出6个主题：（1）出院过渡期的症状冲击与多重身体困扰；（2）复杂的心理适应过程；（3）脱离医院后的信息支持不足与自我摸索困境；（4）来自家庭、病友与医护的支持体验；（5）社会参与受限与角色回归受阻；（6）对连续性个体化康复支持的迫切诉求。

出院过渡期患者面临生理不适与心理压力，同时存在自我管理能力不足和权威信息支持不足等问题。基于本研究发现，建议医护人员在出院过渡期为患者提供连续、及时和个体化的康复支持，并积极探索医院与社区衔接的延续照护路径，以促进患者功能恢复和社会角色重建。