Lived Experiences of Patients with IoT-Enabled Smart Implants in Postoperative Pain Management
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Abstract
Advancements in IoT-enabled medical technologies have transformed postoperative pain management by introducing smart implants that provide real-time monitoring and automated regulation of patient recovery. However, few studies have investigated patients’ subjective experiences, leaving a gap in understanding how they construct personal and emotional meanings while living with such devices. This raises the central question: How do patients perceive, adapt to, and internalize the use of IoT-based smart implants during recovery? Here, we apply an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of patients using IoT-enabled smart implants and uncover the essential meanings embedded in their recovery journeys. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with twelve participants who underwent smart implant procedures in tertiary hospitals. The analysis revealed four central themes: trust and initial perceptions, psychological adaptation, data transparency and privacy concerns, and the balance between improved quality of life and emotional dependence. Participants described the transformative yet complex nature of integrating technology into their bodies, highlighting evolving relationships between autonomy, trust, and technological embodiment. These findings deepen our understanding of human-device interactions in postoperative care and underscore the need for patient-centered approaches in medical innovation. By revealing the personal, cultural, and emotional dimensions of recovery, this study provides valuable insights for improving clinical practices, enhancing healthcare policies, and guiding the design of future IoT-based medical devices..
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