ABSTRACT
Aim
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore patients’ experiences following orthognathic surgery with a focus on dietary management.
Methods
To gain in-depth knowledge of patients’ postoperative dietary management, a phenomenological−hermeneutic approach was applied, in which data were collected through individual semi-structured telephone interviews. Eleven patients (seven men, four women, aged 19–44) were recruited through purposive sampling during two periods in 2023 and 2024. The interviews were conducted 5–6 weeks postoperatively during home recovery and lasted on average 31 min. The data analysis was based on Ricoeur’s theory of narrative interpretation.
Results
Four themes emerged describing challenges regarding dietary protocols: (1) patients struggle with dietary restrictions due to a lack of information, (2) to be in a negative spiral, (3) soft non-chew diet as a period of restrictions, and (4) dietary restrictions cause psychosocial burden.
Conclusions
The dietary challenges were primarily practical and often linked to insufficient information. Consequently, patients reported psychosocial difficulties, often describing a sense of being caught in a negative spiral. These experiences may reflect limited health literacy.
Impact
The findings highlight the need for a more structured approach to nutritional care to enhance patients’ health literacy, strengthen their self-management skills and support better recovery outcomes in the orthognathic trajectory. The study has led to changes in both nutritional protocols and patient education for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 39, Issue 3, June 2026. Read More