Rosenstrøm S, Chou WX, Brødsgaard A. How Family Members Experienced a Family-Focused Atrial Fibrillation Intervention in an Outpatient Setting—A Qualitative Study.
SAGE Open Nurs 2022;
8:23779608221114265. [PMID:
35938068 PMCID:
PMC9350502 DOI:
10.1177/23779608221114265]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Family-focused nursing has gained ground worldwide, and a range of healthcare
systems are now practicing family-focused nursing, which has been shown to
increase the quality of care. Even so, a lack of research remains into
family-focused nursing for various groups of patients in clinical
practice.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to explore how family members (FMs) of patients
with atrial fibrillation (AF) experienced a family-focused nursing
intervention in a clinical outpatient setting.
Methods
This was a qualitative phenomenological interview study employing Reflective
Lifeworld Research (RLR) to explore humans’ lived experiences. The data
reported herein were derived from semi-structured interviews with seven FMs
of patients with AF who participated in a clinical trial which tested a
family-focused intervention in a Cardiology outpatient clinic treating
patients with AF. The transcribed interviews were analyzed in four phases
which is an iterative process as proposed by Dahlberg and Dahlberg.
Findings
The essence of the phenomenon was experiencing less panic and finding peace,
which emerged from the following four patterns. (1) The FMs’ post-AF
experience, (2) Enhanced understanding and knowledge of AF, (3) Personal
interaction with a nurse specialist and (4) AF becomes manageable. A space
facilitating reflection upon the disease and daily life with the disease was
established through group sessions and family conversations.
Conclusion
A family-focused nursing intervention facilitated by specialized nurses with
extensive communication skills filled a knowledge gap related to AF thereby
reducing panic and increasing peace among FMs. Furthermore, the intervention
facilitated family awareness of their resources to bring about change,
regain balance, and enhance well-being in their everyday lives and initiated
a healing process in the families. Future interventions for patients with AF
should consider FMs as well as patients as an entity of care.
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