Exploring the Experiences of Chinese Patients Waiting for Heart Transplantation

Abstract

Background: Patients waiting for heart transplantation (HT) have complex physiological and psychosocial problems. Factors such as psychological state, behavior, social relationships, and cultural background of patients influence the HT process, such as causing psychotic disorder, difficult decision and close dependence. Care during the waiting period needs to be aimed at not only treating the symptoms but also the specific status. Purpose: To describe the physical and psychosocial experiences of the patients waiting for HT in one general hospital in the northern part of China. Methods: A qualitative approach was used in this study. Fifteen patients waiting for HT were selected based on purposive sampling, and semi-structured interviews were carried out. Results: In the analysis process, reported experiences of the participants were categorized into five main themes as follows: 1) feeling the impact; 2) uncertainty about the future; 3) difficult to make decisions; 4) negative emotions and 5) request support. Conclusion: This study provides an in-depth description of patients waiting for HT who have experienced many physical, psychosocial, and familial problems due to disease and their cultural background. It found that Chinese patients have some special experiences due to their psychosocial background. This study suggests that nurses should focus on not only physical but also psychosocial problems of these patients, and provide understandings to develop more effective strategies to solve their problems. Relevance to Clinical Practice: This study focused on the special patients who are waiting for heart transplantation, and got the special results about the feelings and experiences. The results can help the doctors and nurses to help the patients pass the special period smoothly.