The Hospitalization Experience of Chinese Older Adults after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Qualitative Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the hospitalization experience of Chinese older adults after coronary artery bypass surgery.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted. The study was conducted in cardiac surgery department of two hospitals (two 3000-bed hospitals in Wuhan, China) over a 7-month period from October 2016 to April 2017. A total of 28(P1-P28) Chinese older adults (age 60 or older) participated (Age: 68.17 ± 7.92). The data were collected within one week after CABG using semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using the Colaizzi phenomenological method.Results: Four main themes describing the hospitalization experience of Chinese older adults after coronary artery bypass surgery emerged: anxiety due to a lack of awareness of the operation, a lack to adaptation to the life in the hospital, a lack of rehabilitation programs and remaining in a passive status.Conclusions: Chinese old adults are in bad status and a passive role after CABG, wherefore nurses should take into consideration the mental state and attitudes to rehabilitation and provide them with more assessment and care during perioperation.