Healthcare-seeking and Referral Experiences in Patients with Type A Aortic Dissection and Their Families: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background Effective and rapid healthcare-seeking and referral are prerequisites that ensure the life safety of patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) , one of the most critical cardiovascular diseases. Existing studies on healthcare-seeking and referral experiences of patients with TAAD and their families are mostly quantitative, while the real experiences and needs of these patients and their families deserve attention. Objective To explore the real experiences, feelings and needs of patients with TAAD and their families during healthcare-seeking and referral process, providing references for improving the treatment system of aortic dissection in China. Methods Purposive sampling was used to recruit TAAD patients (n=15) and their families from Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital from September to December 2021. Their experiences, feelings and needs during healthcare-seeking and referrals were collected using a semi-structured interview, and analyzed using the Colaizzi's method to identify themes. Results Three themes were identified: Inner experiences at different stages (confusion at the time of onset, complex inner activities during healthcare-seeking and referral process, preoperative inner conflicts) , problems with the aortic dissection diagnosis and treatment system (unsatisfactory quality of diagnosis and treatment, weaknesses in healthcare-seeking process) , real demands of patients and their families (demands for TAAD-related knowledge and access to the disease, economic-related demands) . Conclusion Patients with TAAD and their families had complex inner experiences and multiple needs as well as multiple difficulties during the healthcare-seeking and referral process, suggesting that the diagnosis, treatment and referral system of aortic dissection in China needs to be improved. To improve the quality level of first aid, diagnosis and treatment for aortic dissection, actions need to be taken to conduct standardized diagnosis and treatment aortic dissection training, form a fast channel for aortic dissection diagnosis and treatment, strengthen the popularization of aortic dissection-related knowledge, and improve the funding system of aortic dissection.

Keywords

• aortic dissection|aortic aneurysm|patients|family|clinic visits|referral|experiences|qualitative research