ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Post-cardiac surgery pain affects patients, family caregivers and nurses. The pain experiences of patients, caregivers and nurses remain largely unknown. Therefore, it is important to examine the experiences of patients, caregivers and nurses in depth to ensure effective pain management. AIM: The aim of this study is to examine post-cardiac surgery pain from the perspectives of patients, caregivers and nurses. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative research design was used. The study was carried out in the cardiovascular surgery ward of a tertiary hospital in Türkiye between June and December 2022. The data-driven triangulation method was used in the research. The study sample consisted of eight patients who had undergone cardiac surgery in the tertiary hospital, eight family caregivers and nine nurses who provided care for these individuals. A 'semi-structured interview form' was used to collect data through face-to-face and in-depth interviews. The data were analysed using the thematic analysis method. The COREQ checklist was used for reporting the study. RESULTS: As a result of the interviews, six themes were elicited from the data. These themes were 'explaining pain', 'assessment of pain', 'responses to pain', 'effect of pain on activities of daily living', 'expectations in painful situations' and 'pain management'. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the differences between pain perceptions and coping processes of patients who experienced pain after cardiac surgery, their caregivers and nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Considering the experiences of patients, caregivers and nurses in pain management after cardiac surgery, applications that will ensure joint participation in care practices should be planned.
ABSTRACT
After the operation, death anxiety of patients is affected by many factors. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting death anxiety of patients undergoing open heart surgery. A descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the 'Introductory Information Form,' the 'Templer's Death Anxiety Scale,' and the 'Spiritual Well-being Scale.' This study was conducted with 313 intensive care patients. The mean scores of the patients on the "Death Anxiety Scale" were moderate (7.96 (4.28)). According to the study findings, age, gender, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and spiritual well-being were found to be important predictors of death anxiety (F (4,308) = 16.149, p < .001). Considering gender differences in nursing care, it is thought that the intensive care period will be shortened, the level of spiritual well-being will increase and death anxiety will decrease.
