Experiences of being informed of patients with aortic dissection during the early phase of the disease: a qualitative study

Objective To explore the real experience of patients with aortic dissection (AD) disease during the early phase of the disease. Methods Interpretation phenomenological analysis method was used in the study. Self-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with AD patients who were admitted to the hospital from November 2013 to February 2014, and combining the participation observation method to collect relevant data. Data were analyzed by content analysis. Results 16 cases were interviewed and four advanced themes were extracted: experience of disease symptoms; negative emotion; coping styles; the insight of life. Conclusions AD patients can produce complex psychological experiences when they are informed of the diagnosis because of the experience of pain, sudden critical illness, the role change and so on. Medical staff should pay attention to their psychological status and needs, take corresponding effective measures to promote the further treatment and their physical and psychological rehabilitation. Key words: Qualitative research; Aortic dissection; Disease disclosure