| Summary: | Supportive care may have significant input into the treatment of patients with
heart failure (HF). Support, understanding and being treated as a whole and
unique person are vital for patients with HF. In order to develop a
person-centred program, it is important to know patients’ needs from their
perspectives. The aim of the current review and meta-synthesis was to explore the
needs of patients with HF from their perspective. A qualitative review was
conducted using the keywords: (“needs” OR “need”) AND (“heart failure”) AND
(“qualitative”) in four databases. Pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria
were set. The ‘Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies’ item
checklist was used to assess the research methodologies of the included studies.
A “thematic synthesis” methodological approach was used: (1) Line by line
coding of the findings from primary studies. (2) The resulting codes were
organized into related areas thus building descriptive themes. (3) Analytical
themes were developed. Eleven articles were included in the present review. The
results from the meta-synthesis extracted five different categories covering
patents’ needs: Self-management, palliative care, supportive care, social support
and continuing person-centred care. The need for continuing empowerment and
support to meet those needs was also identified, revealing the core theme: ‘Wind
beneath my wings’. The meta-synthesis quotations highlighted the necessity for
dynamic and interactive continuing person-centred care focusing on the ongoing
patients’ needs through the HF trajectory. Giving more emphasis to the human
dimension and holistic approach of patients with HF, along with cardiology
medicine development might be a key factor in improving clinical outcomes and
health related quality of life.
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