SATS 2009 Final Program - Scandinavian Association for Thoracic ...

S07:7
ADDRESSING THE SPOUSES UNIQUE NEEDS AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY WHEN RECOVERY IS
COMPLICATED BY HEART FAILURE
Ågren Susanna 1 , Strömberg Anna 2 , Svedjeholm Rolf 3 , Berg Sören 4 , Hollman Frisman Gunilla 1
1) Anesthesia and Intensive Care, 2) European Society of Cardiology,
3) Cardiothoracic Surgery, 4) Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Intensive, Sweden
Background
Cardiac surgery places extensive stress on spouses who often are more worried than the patients themselves.
Spouses can experience difficult and demanding situations when the partner becomes critically ill.
Objectives
To identify, describe, and conceptualize the individual needs of spouses of patients with complications of heart failure
after cardiac surgery.
Methods
Grounded theory using a mix of systematic coding, data analysis, and theoretical sampling was performed. Spouses,
10 women and 3 men between 39 and 85 years, were interviewed.
Results
During analysis, the core category of confirmation was identified as describing the individual needs of the
spouses. The core category theoretically binds together three underlying subcategories: security, rest for mind
and body, and inner strength. Confirmation facilitated acceptance and improvement of mental and physical
health among spouses.
Conclusions
By identifying spouses’ needs for security, rest for mind and body, and inner strength, health care professionals can
confirm these needs throughout the caring process, from the critical care period and throughout rehabilitation at
home. Interventions to confirm spouses’ needs are important because they are vital to the patients’ recovery.
S07:8
PATIENT EDUCATION IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF PATIENTS HAVING ELECTIVE CARDIAC
SURGERY IN ICELAND
Olafsdottir Heida Steinunn 1 , Ingadottir Brynja 1 , Sveinsdottir Herdis 1 ,
1) Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland
Aim
The aim of this study was to describe the perceived education and satisfaction with that education among patients
undergoing elective cardiac surgery (CABG +/- AVR or AVR) at the Landspítali University Hospital in Iceland.
Method
This study used a descriptive, prospective correlational panel design. Data were collected with a questionnaire, at the
hospital and at home six weeks later. Questions addressed patient education, symptoms, support and satisfaction
with education, care and support as well as anxiety and depression that were measured with the Hospital Anxiety
and Depression Scale. 111 patients who had surgery from January 15 until July 15, 2007, were invited to participate
and 66 accepted.
Findings
The data analysis is not yet completed. The findings will describe the patients’ anxiety, symptoms, pain, perceived
education and support and the correlation between those variables.
Conclusion
The preliminary findings indicate that the nursing care of cardiac surgery patients could be improved by identifying
patients who are anxious per-operatively and provide them with individualised patient education at the hospital.
Introducing post discharge follow-up is likely to increase patient satisfaction and recovery at home.
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