A Year in the Life of a Person Recently Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation: a Danish Single-Case Study.

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Published: Dec 31, 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5750/ijpcm.v5i4.533
Keywords:
patient journey lived experience patient reported outcomes quality of life health-related quality of life health status atrial fibrillation phenomenological approach case study

Main Article Content

Vibeke Hoegh
Aalborg Atrial Fibrillation Study Group, Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg and Doctoral School of Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg
Elizabeth Cummings
School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Tasmania.
Sam Riahi
Aalborg Atrial Fibrillation Study Group, Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg and Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg.
Soeren Lundbye-Christensen
Aalborg Atrial Fibrillation Study Group, Department of Cardiology and Unit of Clinical Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg.
Kirsten Frederiksen
Institute of Public Health, Department of Nursing Science, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus.
Charlotte Delmar
Institute of Public Health, Department of Nursing Science, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus and Health Faculty, Aalborg University, Aalborg and University College Diakonova, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Healthcare services target delivery of a connected patient journey as an indicator of a high quality of care, but knowledge of the patients’ experience is sparse. This case study explores the lived experience of the quality of life and perception of health during the first year of the journey of a person recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Data sources include field notes, transcripts, medical records, letters, and scores from standardized questionnaires. A phenomenologically inspired approach for qualitative data analysis and a descriptive approach for discovering exceptional changes in scores from questionnaires are used. The patient journey in the study consists of; 38 visits to general practice, five visits to the outpatient clinic, and two radio frequency ablations at hospital. Four central themes; balancing responsibilities, navigating the system, adjusting to the situation, and recognizing bodily reactions, are elaborated. In conclusion, hope for a better future is evident throughout the journey. Difficulties of balancing responsibility, conflicting information and lack of support and connection between general practice and the hospital result in putting the participant’s dignity at stake. Despite two ablations the participant is affected in his daily life and family life due to physical limitations. Along the study adjustment to the situation is seen, and his new status as grandfather is surprisingly seen to facilitate this adjustment. 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 5 No. 4 (2015)
Section
Regular Articles

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