Experiences of Patients Undergoing Bypass Surgery With Health Professionals During the Perioperative Care Process: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

Abstract

To determine the experiences and perceptions of patients who underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery with perioperative health care professionals. The study used a qualitative research design and was conducted by interviewing eight patients who underwent CABG surgery. Study data were collected between April 24, 2020 and February 25, 2021 via a demographic information form and a semi-structured interview form and analyzed by using Heidegger's phenomenological approach. The participants were between the ages of 51 and 70. They were patients who had undergone CABG surgery 2 months before data collection. Two themes were elicited from the interviews: "If you are bad, I am bad, too", which indicated negative experiences of CABG, and "If you are good, I am safe", which indicated positive patient experiences. In addition, eight sub-themes were determined under these two themes. In the perioperative process, patients may experience feelings of restlessness, fear, vulnerability, insecurity, and threat when ignored by health care professionals. The provision of interaction between the health professional and the patient, along with family support, changes the perceived care positively and makes patients feel cared for, well, and safe. Awareness of health care professionals about patient experiences during the CABG surgery process points to an important aspect of quality health care.