Facing uncertainty and possible death: the Christian patients' experience

This paper presents the hospital experience of a group of coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients. A description of the qualitative methodology is given. The participants' experience was identified as facing uncertainty and possible death. Excerpts from interviews are given. The participants coped with the situation bq praying or having others pray on their behalf. Their uncertainty and possible death was affected by the conditions of: available support; environment; credible authority; information; belief; and their psychophysiological status at the time.