Problems faced by clients and factors affecting post-operative recovery after open-heart surgery in selected hospitals in Kathmandu

Abstract

Introduction: Open-heart surgery is a stressful condition and people suffer from various physical, psychological, social and economic stress after open-heart surgery. These factors also affect the recovery and survival after the surgery. This is a descriptive purposive study among adult clients of two tertiary hospitals of Kathmandu with the objective of finding the problems faced by the clients and factors affecting post-operative recovery after open-heart surgery.

Method: Population consisted of 50 clients who had already undergone open-heart surgery. A purposive sampling was done information collected on physical, psychological, social and economic problems using pre-tested structure questionnaire through interview method. The data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics to identify the association between research variables.

Results: Fatigue and discomfort were the most frequently experienced physical complaints. The clients with less than 12 months post-operative period mainly suffered physical problems. Female clients mainly suffered from psychological problems like sadness, anxiety, loss of interest and irritability. Inadequate interpersonal interaction, social and religious participation and the family support were major social tribulations that were significantly higher among female clients. Likewise, decreased follow-up frequency, family disputes and marital disharmony were chief problems due to financial constraints.

Conclusion: This study concludes that clients suffer from a variety of problems associated to physical, psychological, social and economic aspects after open-heart surgery. For this reason, study strongly indicates the need for regular provision of educational sessions and proper counseling services to all clients including their families about these problems so that possible complications and the sufferings are less.