Barriers and Enablers in Home‐Based Staphylococcus aureus Decolonisation Among Orthopaedic Surgery Patients: A Qualitative Study

Aim: This study examined the barriers and facilitators influencing patient adherence to home-based Staphylococcus aureus decolonisation protocols in individuals undergoing arthroplasty. Design: Phenomenological qualitative study. Methods: Ethical approval was granted by the Territorial Ethics Committee Lombardia 6 on June 25, 2024 (Protocol No. 0035970/24). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes, categorised into domains related to patient experiences and perceptions. The study was conducted in a private accredited hospital in Northern Italy. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit patients who tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus during the preoperative phase and underwent arthroplasty between January 2024 and May 2025. Participants were adults, provided informed consent and spoke fluent Italian. Results: Twenty participants (mean age = 58.3; 60% male; 65% undergoing hip arthroplasty and 35% knee arthroplasty) were interviewed. The analysis identified seven distinct themes, synthesised into three primary domains: psychological barriers, fa- cilitators to adherence and organisational barriers. Patient or Public Contribution: Patients contributed as participants by sharing their experiences of the home-based decolo- nisation process during individual interviews. Their insights directly informed the identification of barriers and facilitators to adherence.