Modeling a Caring Approach towards Children with Fallot’s Tetralogy Repair: A Focus on the Child’s Profile

Abstract

Children with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) continue to be on the rise in Africa. More research is needed to improve caring approach towards children with surgically corrected TOF. The consequences of surgical correction of TOF remains an important area of research interest as children with TOF repair run the high risk of increase mortality resulting from acute cardiopulmonary problems. Yet little or no research published focused on investigating which clinical or para-clinical profile of children going in for surgical correction could be the cause of morbidity or mortality amongst children with TOF repair. The aim of the study was to determine the association between the profiles of children visiting the Surgical Heart Center for consultation with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) on the healing process after surgical repair. It was a descriptive quantitative study in which 303 nurses were issued questionnaires. Data was collected using convenient sampling technique and analyzed using multiple corresponding analysis in SPSS software version 21.0. The results showed that the clinical symptoms, clinical history, para-clinical characteristics, and postoperative complications identified three groups of children operated on for TOF: children with unstable hemodynamics; children who usually have symptoms such as systolic thrill, oppression in chest, tachycardia, and heart murmur; and finally children with symptoms of failure to thrive and heart murmur.