2022 Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 30-41
This study aimed to clarify the psychological state during emergency visits of families of patients undergoing emergency cardiac catheterization and treatment following a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six family members of patients. Narratives that expressed the psychological state of family members were extracted from the interview data and categorized using a qualitative and inductive approach. Meleis’ transition theory was used as the guide in the discussion for this study.
For the psychological state of the families, the following four categories were identified for the period before arrival at the emergency department: “bewilderment and astonishment regarding the unexpected situation,” “reassurance that the patient will receive medical care,” “optimism about the patient’s condition,” and “awareness of family responsibilities.” The following four categories were also identified for the period after arrival at the emergency department: “confidence in medical professionals,” “difficulty understanding the current situation based on limited information,” “anxiety and peace of mind about the patient’s condition,” and “thinking that there is nothing to do but wait.”
The findings suggest the need for deliberate care by nurses with awareness of family members and continuing nursing care after hospitalization based on the family’s transition process in order to allow families to feel a continuous connection as the environment changes and to fulfill their role as a family.
