Mayo Clinic Department of Nursing, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2011 Jul-Aug;26(4):336-44. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0b013e31820019b9.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a public health burden associated with stroke, cardiomyopathy, and diminished quality of life (QOL). Although surveys suggest that AF impairs physical functioning and mental health, little is known about patients' experiences contributing to those findings. Understanding patients' experiences of living with AF may provide a foundation for interventions to improve QOL. In this qualitative descriptive study, we describe the experience of living with recurrent symptomatic AF from patients' perspectives.
Seven women and 8 men, recruited from a Midwest medical center, with a mean age of 59.8 (SD, 14.5) years, diagnosed with recurrent symptomatic AF, participated in open-ended interviews. Data were analyzed by qualitative descriptive methods.
Themes were identified that reveal experiences of living with recurrent symptomatic AF over time and how AF may diminish QOL. Themes included (1) finding the meaning of symptoms, (2) feeling uninformed and unsupported, (3) turning points, (4) steering clear of AF, (5) managing unpredictable and function limiting symptoms, (6) emotional distress, and (7) accommodation to AF tempered with hope for a cure. Participants experienced delays in diagnosis and minimization of their concerns by clinicians and others and did not receive counseling regarding the nature of AF and self-management. Strategies to manage AF and its symptoms were learned through trial and error and were transiently effective. Support for coping with the emotional burden of AF was lacking. Interventions to improve recognition of AF symptoms and promote prompt evaluation and treatment are needed. Psychoeducational programs to teach patients and families about the nature of AF, guide self-management, and address the emotional burden of AF need to be developed and tested.
心房颤动（AF）是一种与中风、心肌病和生活质量（QOL）下降相关的公共卫生负担。尽管调查表明 AF 会影响身体机能和心理健康，但人们对导致这些发现的患者体验知之甚少。了解患者的 AF 生活体验可能为改善 QOL 的干预措施提供基础。在这项定性描述性研究中，我们从患者的角度描述了反复发作有症状的 AF 的生活体验。
从中西部医疗中心招募了 7 名女性和 8 名男性，平均年龄为 59.8（SD，14.5）岁，诊断为反复发作有症状的 AF，他们参与了开放式访谈。采用定性描述性方法进行数据分析。
确定了随时间推移揭示反复发作有症状的 AF 体验以及 AF 如何降低 QOL 的主题。这些主题包括（1）寻找症状的意义，（2）感到不知情和不受支持，（3）转折点，（4）避开 AF，（5）管理不可预测和限制功能的症状，（6）情绪困扰，以及（7）适应 AF 伴随着对治愈的希望。参与者经历了诊断延迟和临床医生和其他人对他们的担忧最小化，并且没有接受关于 AF 性质和自我管理的咨询。管理 AF 和其症状的策略是通过反复试验和短暂的有效来学习的。缺乏应对 AF 情绪负担的支持。需要改善对 AF 症状的认识，并促进及时评估和治疗的干预措施。需要开发和测试向患者和家属传授 AF 性质、指导自我管理和解决 AF 情绪负担的心理教育计划。
