Patients' and carers' perceptions of factors influencing recovery after cardiac surgery

Stress and anxiety experienced by patients following myocardial infarction are well documented. Moreover, partners feel distress when they realize tha t they must assume responsibility for day-to-day care once the period of ho spitalization is over. However, despite the trend towards early hospital di scharge and the role which carers appear to be expected to undertake during the recovery of patients who have had cardiac surgery, few studies have be en undertaken with this group outside the United States of America. This om ission was filled by a descriptive survey with 60 patients and carers follo wing cardiac surgery. Data were obtained during early recovery (1 week afte r hospital discharge) and 6 weeks later. The results indicated that carers assumed a heavy burden once the patient had left hospital and were less sat isfied with the timing of discharge than the patients. Information provided by nurses was consistently rated more highly than information provided by doctors or physiotherapists but there was scope for increasing input with b oth groups. High levels of satisfaction with the information provided by he alth professionals were associated with lower scores on the Hospital Anxiet y and Depression Scale. More qualitative, in-depth studies to explore the p recise needs of patients and their carers are needed to ensure that in futu re both groups are better prepared.