The implications of living with heart failure; the impact on everyday life, family support, co-morbidities and access to healthcare: a secondary qualitative analysis.

Mirella Fry,Umesh T Kadam,Sarah Purdy,Sarah Mclachlan,Carolyn A Chew-Graham,Tom Sanders

doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0537-5

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to use secondary analysis to interrogate a qualitative data set to explore the experiences of patients living with heart failure.MethodsThe data-set comprised interviews with 11 patients who had participated in an ethnographic study of heart failure focusing on unplanned hospital admissions. Following an initial review of the literature, a framework was developed with which to interrogate the data-set. This was modified in light of analysis of the first two interviews, to focus on the rich data around patients’ perceptions of living with heart failure, managing co-morbidities, accessing healthcare and the role of their family and friends, during their illness journey.ResultsRespondents described how the symptoms of heart failure impacted on their daily lives and how disruption of routine activity due to their symptoms caused them to seek medical care. Respondents disclosed the difficulties of living with other illnesses, in addition to their heart failure, particularly managing multiple and complex medication regimes and negotiating multiple appointments; all expressed a desire to return to their pre-morbid, more independent lives. Many respondents described uncertainty around diagnosis and delays in communication from their healthcare providers. The importance of family support was emphasised, but respondents worried about burdening relatives with their illness.ConclusionLiving with heart failure causes disruption to the lives of sufferers. Facilitation of access to healthcare, through good communication between services and having a strong support network of both family and clinicians can reduce the impact of heart failure on the lives of the patient and those around them.

Highlights

The aim of this study was to use secondary analysis to interrogate a qualitative data set to explore the experiences of patients living with heart failure
Heart failure is prevalent in the UK [4]; common symptoms include breathlessness, peripheral oedema and fatigue, all of which interfere with daily life [5]
This paper reports a secondary analysis which focused on patients’ perspectives of living with and managing heart failure and the impact of the management of multiple illnesses, the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, and the role of family and friends, illuminating areas of heart failure care and patient experience that have been insufficiently explored in the previous literature

Summary

Introduction

The aim of this study was to use secondary analysis to interrogate a qualitative data set to explore the experiences of patients living with heart failure. Bury 1982 describes the effects of chronic illness as ‘biographical disruption’ to everyday life, and disruption to the individual suffering with the illness, but their families and wider social network [2]. Patients and their families may seek out information, support, and the most effective strategies to manage their symptoms, in the effort to minimise potential future disruption [3]. Selfmanagement of multiple chronic illnesses, educating patients to monitor their own health and being able to recognise illness severity are current features of healthcare policy [7]

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