Recovery process and quality of life of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24184
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare
• Principal Investigator: Sugino Yukiko 九州看護福祉大学, 看護福祉学部, 教授 (40728911)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 心臓手術 / 高齢者 / 退院後 / 回復過程 / QOL

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A multiple case study was conducted to investigate the recovery process and the impact on quality of life of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery from discharge to 3 months post-discharge. There were two recovery processes: a recovery group and a delayed recovery group. The recovery group tended to expand their behaviors while coping with the effects and symptoms of surgery and had a higher quality of life. The delayed recovery group tended to be cautious and indoor-centered, and had lower quality of life. In the study of post-discharge support programs, the recovery period after discharge from the hospital was set at 3 months for the elderly patients. As nursing issues to promote recovery, the need for post-discharge assessment of physical load and palliative care, support for self-management methods to maintain activity, and analysis of factors that inhibit behavior and support for recuperation were identified.

Free Research Field

周術期看護分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、心臓手術後の退院から退院後3か月間における高齢者の回復過程やその様相を記述することで、心臓手術後の急性期から在宅療養移行期への継続的な看護の示唆を検討する基礎資料となり、退院後のQOLを向上させるケア開発の一助となると考える。