OBJECTIVE: To identify and explore the learning and support needs of p
atients and families during the waiting period before cardiac surgery.
DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional cohort survey design. SETTING: U
niversity-affiliated tertiary cardiovascular care center in mideastern
Canada. SUBJECTS: One hundred forty-seven patients currently on the c
ardiac surgery waiting list, and 125 family members of these patients.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Needs Inventory for Patients who Wait. INTERVENTION
: All patients were sent a survey for themselves and one for a family
member that included: a demographic profile, subjective questionnaire,
and the Needs Inventory for Patients who Wait, The survey was to be c
ompleted and returned to the investigators. RESULTS: The return rates
were 77% (113) for patients, and 70% (87) for family members. For pati
ents and their family members, item rankings were highly correlated fo
r areas in which they wanted information (r = 0.84), and for areas tha
t caused them the most concern (r = 0.91). Family members were also co
ncerned about caring for the patient before and after surgery. The num
ber of weeks on the waiting list (< 1 month to > 6 months) did not cha
nge the concerns of patients and family. CONCLUSIONS: This survey iden
tifies some of the educational and support needs of patients undergoin
g cardiac surgery and their family members. Patients are concerned abo
ut their health and survival until the surgical procedure, as well as
about the success of the procedure. Families share patients' concerns
and have an additional concern regarding how to support the patient du
ring the perioperative stage. The needs identified by patients and the
ir families in this survey were found to be stable over time, and with
in the realm of nursing practice to address.