Qualitative study explores how patients having delirium experienced interaction with healthcare professionals and relatives
An article titled “‘I hope you get normal again’: an explorative study on how delirious octogenarian patients experience their interactions with healthcare professionals and relatives after aortic valve therapy” was published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.
In this qualitative study, Instenes et al. explore and describe how patients 80 years old and older who had post-operative delirium experienced their interactions with healthcare professionals and relatives following aortic valve replacement. Patients were interviewed within the first year after discharge and four years later.
Using an inductive approach, an overarching theme emerged: ‘Healthcare professionals’ and relatives’ responses made a considerable impact on the delirium experience postoperatively and in the long-term’. Three sub-themes described the patients’ experiences: ‘the need for close supportive care’, ‘disrespectful behavior created a barrier’ and ‘insensitive comments made lasting impressions’. Having healthcare professionals and relatives nearby made patients feel secure, while lack of attention elevated patients’ emotional distress. Four years later, patients clearly recalled negative comments and unsupportive actions in their delirious
state.
Several authors in this study are part of The Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cardiology (PROCARD)-research group. Selected findings from this study were also presented at the annual Congress for Cardiovascular Nurses (EuroHeartCare) in 2017
The article are published in the international journal: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Findings were presented at EuroHeartCare 2017 in Jönköping and achieved “Top Score Poster”.