Understanding cardiac follow-up services--a qualitative study of patients, healthcare professionals, and managers.
The study explores the experience and understanding of stakeholders involved in follow-up services after a cardiovascular event. A multimethod approach was used consisting of questionnaires, telephone surveys, and in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Five themes were identified: patients wished to be seen in their total context, patients should do as told; healthcare professionals perform check-ups and control cardiac risk factors; healthcare professionals are in charge of the care processes; and the structure and processes of the healthcare organization. Results indicate that healthcare professionals have considerable difficulty in understanding the patient's situation and to collaborate between different levels of care. Furthermore, the total healthcare organization lacked comprehensive and practical structures in the follow-up process, rehabilitation, and secondary preventive services.
Henriksen
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Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Health Services Research, Uppsala University, North-West Stockholm County, Uppsala, Sweden. eva.henriksen@medks.ki.se
Rosenqvist
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D000359:Aftercare / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden