Abstract
Background: Patients waiting for cardiac surgery experience the period from decision about surgery to the operation as long, heavy and dreary. Aims: The aim was to describe patients' experiences of support in the form of important events during the waiting period. Methods: The design was qualitative and the ‘critical incident’ technique was used. Incidents were collected via interviews with 26 patients waiting for heart surgery. The selection of patients was strategic. Results: In all, 223 important events, both positive and negative, were identified in the interviews and two main areas emerged in the analysis: internal factors and external factors. Internal factors describe how an experience of support was influenced by changes in life style and by finding strength from within. External factors describe how experiences of support was influenced by being allowed to participate in care management, by receiving attention, as well as by the health care organisation and the social network. Conclusion: By identifying factors that influence patients' experiences of support while they wait for heart surgery, institutional and non-institutional health-care services can improve the organisation of the entire health care process, and develop patient-focused support programmes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.