Psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients: continuity at clinical stages

Abstract

Introduction More often, cardiac surgery patients (CSP) receive systematic psychological aid after surgery. However, their need for psychosocial interventions in the perioperative period is underestimated. Objectives The goal is to determine the stages of psychosocial interventions for CSP that could cover the whole period of their treatment and rehabilitation. Methods Analysis of scientific papers and practical experience gained in cardiologic clinic allowed dividing the system of psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients into periods in accordance with actual stages of medical aid for CSPs. Results According to the principles of personalized approach, we determined six consecutive semantically different stages of psychosocial interventions: out-of-hospital pre-surgery, in-hospital pre-surgery, early post-surgery, in-hospital post-surgery, post-surgery rehabilitation, and out-of-hospital rehabilitation. They have different duration and cover the whole period of treatment and rehabilitation of CSPs beginning with the moment of indication to surgery up to the complete rehabilitation and full adaptation to their post-surgery somatic condition. Each stage has its own goals, main objectives and expectations. Duration of the stages is conditional and can change depending on the nature of every clinical situation. Conclusions Determination of clinical stages in the process of psychosocial interventions for CSPs gives ground for selecting optimal psychological methods and techniques for each stage and sets exact goals, achievement of which becomes possible only through a properly organised work of an interdisciplinary team of specialists. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• psychosocial interventions
• perioperative period
• psychological methods and techniques
• cardiac surgery patients