Patient and staff perspective of a nurse-led support programme for patients waiting for cardiac surgery: participant perspective of a cardiac support programme.
BACKGROUND
A nurse-led support and education programme for patients waiting for coronary artery bypass surgery was evaluated in a randomised controlled trial of 188 patients at a tertiary centre in the UK.


OBJECTIVE
To add a qualitative perspective to the evaluation by exploring patients' experience while taking part in the trial and staff views of the patients' experience and the intervention.


METHODS
A purposive sample of 19 patients was interviewed and the transcriptions read to staff during focus groups. They discussed what they learned from the stories and their own experience of the programme.


RESULTS
The patients appreciated support from the nurses but felt communication and physical assessment could be improved. The patients varied in their understanding of the programme and their degree of motivation to improve their health. The staff varied in their approach to preparing patients for surgery. External factors influencing the intervention's impact were length of time on the waiting list and the increasing contribution of local rehabilitation services.


CONCLUSIONS
Staff need to improve communication both between themselves and with the patients. Patients appreciate physical and psychological preparation for surgery, but the waiting period is not the optimal time to address their risk factors for coronary disease.
Goodman
Helen
H
Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK. H.Goodman@rbht.nhs.uk
Davison
June
J
Preedy
Michael
M
Peters
Emma
E
Waters
Phillip
P
Persaud-Rai
Bibi
B
Shuldham
Caroline
C
Pepper
John
J
Cowie
Martin R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D014850:Waiting Lists