Stress coping and experiences in preschool children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease

Abstract

 This study seeks to clarify coping and appraisal and describe stress coping in preschool children undergoing congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery and, thereby, obtain guidance for nursing support. A qualitative longitudinal survey was conducted consisting of participant observations. Through 85 observations of four children undergoing CHD surgery, their reactions to surgery-related stress during their ward hospitalization were observed. Qualitative analyses of observation records were performed. The children’s stress coping was divided into six experiences: new environments, additional restrictions, medication, painful procedure, painful examination, and invasive procedure. They showed strong defensive reactions to the following familiar experiences: medication, painful examination, and invasive procedure. However, they showed receptive reactions and only slight defense in the following surgery-specific experiences: new environments, additional restrictions, and painful procedure. The findings strongly encourage the development of useful educational interventions that focus on familiar experiences to promote each child’s stress coping.