IMR Press / RCM / Volume 22 / Issue 3 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2203091
Open Access Systematic Review
A qualitative meta-synthesis of patients with heart failure perceived needs
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1 Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, 3041 Limassol, Cyprus
2 Intensive Care Unit, Nicosia General Hospital, 2029 Nicosia, Cyprus
3 American Medical Center, 2047 Nicosia, Cyprus
*Correspondence: martha_kyriakou@hotmail.com (Martha Kyriakou)
Academic Editor: Peter A. McCullough
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2021, 22(3), 853–864; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2203091
Submitted: 25 May 2021 | Revised: 22 July 2021 | Accepted: 4 August 2021 | Published: 24 September 2021
Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Abstract

Supportive care may have significant input into the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). Support, understanding and being treated as a whole and unique person are vital for patients with HF. In order to develop a person-centred program, it is important to know patients’ needs from their perspectives. The aim of the current review and meta-synthesis was to explore the needs of patients with HF from their perspective. A qualitative review was conducted using the keywords: (“needs” OR “need”) AND (“heart failure”) AND (“qualitative”) in four databases. Pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were set. The ‘Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies’ item checklist was used to assess the research methodologies of the included studies. A “thematic synthesis” methodological approach was used: (1) Line by line coding of the findings from primary studies. (2) The resulting codes were organized into related areas thus building descriptive themes. (3) Analytical themes were developed. Eleven articles were included in the present review. The results from the meta-synthesis extracted five different categories covering patents’ needs: Self-management, palliative care, supportive care, social support and continuing person-centred care. The need for continuing empowerment and support to meet those needs was also identified, revealing the core theme: ‘Wind beneath my wings’. The meta-synthesis quotations highlighted the necessity for dynamic and interactive continuing person-centred care focusing on the ongoing patients’ needs through the HF trajectory. Giving more emphasis to the human dimension and holistic approach of patients with HF, along with cardiology medicine development might be a key factor in improving clinical outcomes and health related quality of life.

Keywords
Heart failure
Needs assessment
Patient-centred
Person centred
Qualitative research
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