Elective Surgical Delays Due to Covid-19

The Patient Lived Experience

Bibliographic Data

ID9100153
AuthorsMary E Byrnes (0000-0002-3910-8532, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, corresponding author), Craig S Brown (0000-0002-2531-305X, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, corresponding author), Ana C De Roo (0000-0001-9855-6469, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, corresponding author), Matthew A Corriere (0000-0002-7415-0322, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, corresponding author), Matthew A Romano (Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI), Shinichi Fukuhara (0000-0002-7898-5159, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI), Karen M Kim (0000-0002-5641-7572, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI), Nicholas H Osborne (0000-0002-8599-6649, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume59
Issue4
Pages288-294
Publication date2021-04-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0025-7079 • E-ISSN: 1537-1948
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/mlr.0000000000001503
PMID33605673
OpenAlexW3131494434
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited12

BACKGROUND: This qualitative research explored the lived experiences of patients who experienced postponement of elective cardiac and vascular surgery due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We know very little about patients during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Understanding the patient voice may play an important role in prioritization of postponed cases and triage moving forward. METHODS: Utilizing a hermeneutical phenomenological qualitative design, we interviewed 47 individuals who experienced a postponement of cardiac or vascular surgery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed and informed by phenomenological research methods. RESULTS: Patients in our study described 3 key issues around their postponement of elective surgery. Patients described robust narratives about the meanings of their elective surgeries as the chance to "return to normal" and alleviate symptoms that impacted everyday life. Second, because of the meanings most of our patients ascribed to their surgeries, postponement often took a toll on how patients managed physical health and emotional well-being. Finally, paradoxically, many patients in our study were demonstrative that they would "rather die from a heart attack" than be exposed to the coronavirus. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several components of the patient experience, encompassing quality of life and other desired benefits of surgery, the risks of COVID, and difficulty reconciling the 2. Our study provides significant qualitative evidence to inform providers of important considerations when rescheduling the backlog of patients. The emotional and psychological distress that patients experienced due to postponement may also require additional considerations in postoperative recovery

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · MEDLINE · Political science · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Virology

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