PATIENTS PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR EDUCATION NEEDS IN THE FIRST 6 WEEKS FOLLOWING DISCHARGE AFTER CARDIAC-SURGERY

The aim of this study was to discover what information and support pat ients feel they need in the 6-week rehabilitation period following dis charge after cardiac surgery. It was undertaken at the request of the hospital multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation team to enable them to plan a package of information to meet those needs. It was a local s tudy aiming to gain insight into the patients' own views by asking the m to keep a diary over the 6-week period and then take part in an unst ructured interview when they returned for their 6-week out-patient app ointment. The analysis of the respondents' comments gave an insight in to their whole experience of the first 6 weeks following discharge. Th e themes which emerged were wide-ranging and were grouped under the he adings of the early discharge needs of pain relief and sleep promotion , psychological needs, practical needs and community support. To take the study forward, several recommendations were made to improve the re habilitation experience. These included additions to the literature an d patient education sessions, and changes to ensure a smoother transit ion into the community. The findings also suggest the need for improve ments in and further research into the whole area of the psychological preparation for discharge after cardiac surgery.