Perceptions of learning needs for patients with heart valve replacements four to ten weeks after hospital discharge

• Main Author: Lespérance, Andrew Michael
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4007

This study was undertaken because a review of the literature revealed that there had been limited research pertaining to the learning need of patients with heart valve replacements. The focus of the study was to determine what this patient population perceived their learning needs to be during the early weeks after hospital discharge, when they occurred, and how they should be addressed. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from both the Vancouver Hospital and The University of British Columbia ethics approval committees. A descriptive methodology was used. Henderson’s philosophy of nursing was used to assist in devising prompts for the semi-structured interview process. Eighteen patients were recruited from a local teaching hospital and interviewed in their homes four to then weeks after hospital discharge. The interviews were taped and transcribed. Manifest and latent content analysis were used to analyze the data. The results revealed many of the traditional cardiac learning needs applied to this patient population including such things as the need for education related to fatigue, mobility, emotions, activities of daily living, support and medication, exercises and the resumption of sexual activity. However, within these general categories, specific education requirements related to the valve replacement population were noted. Information and education was required for such issues as the valve’s life expectancy, the potential for valve failure, the anticoagulant regimen, and nutritional requirements. Participants also expressed valve related fears, and required time to adjust to these. The need for social, support was expressed by all participants. It was determined that single people and women resumed various activities earlier in recovery than married and male participants. Participants preferred having their physicians educate them on a one to one basis about the recovery process, and believed post-operative education was best provided in hospital well before discharge. Conclusions are drawn and the implications the results have for nursing education, practice, research and of the health care professionals are discussed.