A qualitative study exploring the experiences and needs of fear of disease progression in patients after open-heart surgery

Objective: Open-heart surgery (OHS) is a stressful event for patients, all of whom experience varying levels of worry and fear, leading to fear of disease progression (FoP). An in-depth understanding of the experiences and needs of FoP in patients after OHS is beneficial for healthcare providers to make optimal decisions, but this has not been reported. We aimed to explore the experiences and needs of FoP in patients after OHS by adopting a qualitative interview method. Methods: A qualitative study was performed to recruit 18 qualified patients through purposive sampling and then conduct face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. The research setting was the cardiovascular surgery ward of a tertiary hospital in Guangdong, China, in 2024. The data were analyzed and extracted using conventional content analysis. Results: In the study, four themes emerged: a) sources of FoP; b) effects of FoP; c) attitudes towards FoP; d) supportive service needs. The desire to obtain meaningful assistance and the profound experiences of FoP in patients after OHS gave rise to these themes. Conclusions: FoP following OHS is a subjective feeling characterized by fear and discomfort. Care workers must completely grasp the patients' fear and provide personalized interventions to support them through the difficult recovery phase, which will also be the focus of future efforts in this area.