Waiting for Cardiac Surgery—Support Experienced by Next of Kin

Abstract

Background: Next of kin (NoK) play a crucial role for patients waiting for cardiac surgery. Aim: To describe experience of support, in the form of important events, by next of kin while their intimates were waiting for a heart operation. Methods: The design was qualitative and the “critical incident” technique was used. Incidents were collected via interviews with 23 next of kin to patients waiting for heart surgery and the informants were chosen by the patient themselves. Findings: In all, 224 important events, both positive and negative, were identified in the interviews and two main areas emerged in the analysis: internal factors and external factors. Positive internal factors were associated with finding strength, whereas negative factors were associated with uncomfortable feelings. Positive external factors were associated with participating in care and receiving attention, whereas negative factors were associated with dissatisfaction with the health-care organization and failing social network. Conclusion: This study shows that next of kin experienced positive support when they received attention and information and felt involvement in the care. An important implication for the health-care professionals and public authorities is the understanding of the experience of support expressed by next of kin, to provide them with optimal information and support.

Extended written pre-operative information about possible complications at cardiac surgery—do the patients want to know?

“…The Edwards study also showed that the leaflets were read by the patients and their next of kin about five times before the surgery. The next of kin play a crucial role for patients waiting for cardiac surgery, and it has been shown that they experience support when they receive information and attention, and are involved in the care [18].…”

Patients perceptions of information about risks at cardiac surgery

“…Furthermore, as a patient with cardiac disease receives care from several different health care providers, the information given to the patient is often varied and not well synchronized [5]. Patients and their next of kin often notice that health care providers believe that information-giving is the responsibility of another care giver, with no one taking full responsibility to ensure that patients and their next of kin are given the information they really need [6,7]. Well-informed patients are likely to be more satisfied with the care and information and this has been found to alleviate anxiety and fear in cardiac patients [8][9][10].…”

Waiting for a heart or lung transplant: Relatives’ experience of information and support

“…In order to facilitate data collection, a semistructured interview guide was developed (Table 2) based on previous research (Ivarsson et al, 2005, Ivarsson et al, 2011 and a review of the literature. One pilot interview (not included in the study according to the informant's wishes) was conducted to evaluate whether events were verified satisfactorily in response to the questions.…”