RESEARCH ARTICLE
The Well-Being of Relatives of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Critical Incident Technique Analysis
Helena Ekblad*, 1, Dan Malm 1, 2, Bengt Fridlund 1, Lisa Conlon 1, Helén Rönning 1
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2014Volume: 8
First Page: 48
Last Page: 55
Publisher ID: TONURSJ-8-48
DOI: 10.2174/1874434601408010048
Article History:
Received Date: 19/5/2014Revision Received Date: 9/7/2014
Acceptance Date: 10/8/2014
Electronic publication date: 19 /11/2014
Collection year: 2014
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background:
The well-being of relatives of patients having chronic heart diseases (CHD) has been found to be negatively affected by the patient’s condition. Studies examining relatives of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) indicate that their well-being may be affected in a similar manner, but further research is needed.
Aim:
To explore and describe critical incidents in which relatives of patients experience how AF affects their well-being and what actions they take to handle these situations. Design and method: An explorative, descriptive design based on the critical incident technique (CIT) was used. Interviews were conducted with 19 relatives (14 women and five men) of patients hospitalised in southern Sweden due to acute symptoms of the AF.
Results:
The well-being of relatives was found to be affected by their worries (patient-related health), as well as the sacri-ficing of their own needs (self-related health). In handling their own well-being, these relatives adjusted to and supported the patient (practical involvement), along with adjusting their own feelings and responding to the mood of the patients (emotional involvement).
Conclusion:
The well-being of relatives of patients with AF was affected depending on the patients’ well-being. In their attempt to handle their own well-being, the relatives adjusted to and supported the patients. Further research is needed in order to evaluate the effects of support to relatives and patients respectively and together.
