Enhancing long term health maintenance and quality of life outcomes for middle-aged CABG patients

Abstract

Background: The middle-aged group is the most age-group that fails to attend the CRP after CABG surgery. The reason being due to work commitment and this has brought with it an interest to explore further the middle-aged group needs and QoL in the long-term recovery. Objective: The main aim of the study was to explore patients’perceived convalescence needs, challenges and barriers delaying recovery, opportunities and facilitating factors enhancing recovery, one-to-three years post-CABG surgery. Design and participants: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was adopted to explore the lived-experience of eight CABG patients (3 women, 5 men) and thus meet the aims and objectives. Methodology and setting: Semi-structured audio-recorded interviews were carried out in the participants’ homes and were later transcribed verbatim, coded and analysed manually. Talcott Parsons’ (1951) theory of the Sick Role helped explore how the participants’ quality of life has been affected by the surgery in the long term recovery, and whether they have been successful in (regaining self-autonomy). Results: Four emergent themes were identified: ‘the challenge to adopt a healthy lifestyle’, ‘the fear of imposing on others’, ‘living within limits’ and ‘regaining autonomy’. Results show that quality of life improved for some of the participants, although others are still living within limits. Conclusion: Recommendations arising from this study include the need for an orientation meeting a day before the surgery, more frequent follow-up, promotion of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme, addressing pain management prior discharge, sexual education, psychological support and others would aid the middle-aged to rehabilitate from the sick role and start living their lifes to the full.