Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study

Objectives This study aimed to analyse the experiences and feelings of patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) and their families during the medical treatment and referral process, investigate the entire process’s needs and problems and provide evidence for improving the aortic dissection trea...

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Main Authors: Lin Li, Qing Zhao, Na Xu, Wenxian Wu, Wanpeng Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-02-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/2/e064247.full
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author Lin Li
Qing Zhao
Na Xu
Wenxian Wu
Wanpeng Guo
author_facet Lin Li
Qing Zhao
Na Xu
Wenxian Wu
Wanpeng Guo
author_sort Lin Li
collection DOAJ
description Objectives This study aimed to analyse the experiences and feelings of patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) and their families during the medical treatment and referral process, investigate the entire process’s needs and problems and provide evidence for improving the aortic dissection treatment system.Design A qualitative descriptive design using a phenomenological study. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data, which was transcribed verbatim.Setting Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Shanxi Bethune Hospital in China.Participants Fifteen family groups, consisting of patients with TAAD who underwent surgical treatment and their families, were selected.Results Three primary themes were discussed and developed. Theme 1: the experiences of medical treatment and referral (confusion at the onset; complex inner feelings and emotional expressions of the medical treatment and referral; preoperative inner conflict); theme 2: problems with the TAAD medical treatment system (the quality of diagnosis and medical treatment needs to be improved; deficiency of medical system policies and procedures); and theme 3: real demands (demands for TAAD-related knowledge and access to the disease; economic-related demands).Conclusion Patients with TAAD and their families encounter complex inner experiences, multiple requirements and numerous challenges during the medical treatment and referral process. It is advised that the treatment and referral system of TAAD in China needs to be improved. Future research and clinical practice should standardise diagnosis and treatment training, establish a fast channel for TAAD to prioritise treatment, popularise aortic dissection-related knowledge and improve the funding system.
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spelling doaj-art-bb0838f2da4d43549dec0bcf3b464e8a2025-08-20T03:01:59ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-02-0113210.1136/bmjopen-2022-064247Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative studyLin Li0Qing Zhao1Na Xu2Wenxian Wu3Wanpeng Guo4Department of Neurosurgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China11 Department of Health Management, School of Health Management of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Xiamen Medical College Affiliated Second Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaObjectives This study aimed to analyse the experiences and feelings of patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) and their families during the medical treatment and referral process, investigate the entire process’s needs and problems and provide evidence for improving the aortic dissection treatment system.Design A qualitative descriptive design using a phenomenological study. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data, which was transcribed verbatim.Setting Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Shanxi Bethune Hospital in China.Participants Fifteen family groups, consisting of patients with TAAD who underwent surgical treatment and their families, were selected.Results Three primary themes were discussed and developed. Theme 1: the experiences of medical treatment and referral (confusion at the onset; complex inner feelings and emotional expressions of the medical treatment and referral; preoperative inner conflict); theme 2: problems with the TAAD medical treatment system (the quality of diagnosis and medical treatment needs to be improved; deficiency of medical system policies and procedures); and theme 3: real demands (demands for TAAD-related knowledge and access to the disease; economic-related demands).Conclusion Patients with TAAD and their families encounter complex inner experiences, multiple requirements and numerous challenges during the medical treatment and referral process. It is advised that the treatment and referral system of TAAD in China needs to be improved. Future research and clinical practice should standardise diagnosis and treatment training, establish a fast channel for TAAD to prioritise treatment, popularise aortic dissection-related knowledge and improve the funding system.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/2/e064247.full
spellingShingle Lin Li
Qing Zhao
Na Xu
Wenxian Wu
Wanpeng Guo
Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study
BMJ Open
title Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study
title_full Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study
title_short Treatment and referral experiences of patients with type A aortic dissection and their families: a qualitative study
title_sort treatment and referral experiences of patients with type a aortic dissection and their families a qualitative study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/2/e064247.full
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AT wenxianwu treatmentandreferralexperiencesofpatientswithtypeaaorticdissectionandtheirfamiliesaqualitativestudy
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