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

P01:46
TELEPHONE SUPPORT FOR CARDIAC SURGERY PATIENTS AT HOME POST DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL
Thorsteinsdottir Steinunn Arna 1
1) Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland
Aims
The aim of this quality project was to explore the educational needs, provide general support and evaluate the
usefulness of telephone-support among cardiac surgery patients one to two weeks post discharge from Landspitali
University Hospital (LUH).
Method
A descriptive exploratory method was used. All cardiac surgery patients (n=17) who were discharged from the
heart-surgery unit at LUH over a one month period in spring 2009 received a phone call from a nurse at the unit.
They received the call 6-15 days post-discharge. A purpose-made checklist was used to collect data on educational
need. The list included questions on physiological and psychological issues. Information was also sought on use
of health care services post-discharge, satisfaction with education received at the hospital and usefulness of the
telephone call.
Findings
This intervention consisted of patient education, encouragement and support, screening for potential complications
and facilitating access to various agents in the healthcare system. Patients expressed satisfaction with the phonecall
and evaluated it as necessary even though they were content with the discharge education received. All of them
had some questions or needed confirmation of their condition as being normal. Pain, problems with the operated
leg, fatigue, oedema and psychological problems were the most common signs and symptoms these patients
experienced.
Conclusion
Telephone-support seems to be a useful intervention for this patient group and improves their satisfaction and
security at home. Many unforeseen questions and problems arise after discharge and addressing them timely may
enhance recovery and prevent complications to become severe.
P01:47
THE MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF PATIENTS AFTER HEART-SURGERY, AN INTERVIEW STUDY
Sundh Marie 1 , Rylander Hagson Pauline 1
1) Sweden
Previous studies have shown that patients become strongly affected after heart-surgery and a stay in an intensivecare
unit. The aim of this study was to describe the patient’s experiences and memories after open-heart-surgery.
Four patients where included in the study and in-depth-interviews where made in the fourth to fifth day after surgery.
A Qualitative content analysis of the interviews where made, which showed that the patients experienced several
mixed feelings related to the surgery, such as pleasure and anxiety. They experienced how their abilities changed
after the surgery with symptoms as confusion and amnesia. The experiences where affected by factors out of the
patient’s control, such as the routines and environment of the ward. To be cared for in an intensive-care unit after
heart surgery was described as a big incident in life and the patients felt the need of empathy, compassion and
warmth. As employees of the ward we were capable of providing many of these needs, but we must not forget about
the seriousness of the situation these patients are experiencing and we must never consider it to be a matter of
routine. If we do so, it will show in our actions during the care of these patients and it will contribute to a negative
experience of the patients.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 89