Perceptions of Illness among Thai Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated perceptions of illness among cardiovascular patients before and after undergoing coronary artery bypasses grafting (CABG) surgery at a central hospital in the eastern region of Thailand. Data were collected from December 2011 to May 2012. Altogether 75 patients who had CABG surgery were recruited as informants. The data were collected from 7 patients through narrative interviews and 68 patients through semi-structured interviews. Home visits were also made to conduct participant observation, additional in-depth interviews were conducted with medical experts, and medical records were reviewed to triangulate the data. The data were analyzed using narrative and content analysis. The findings are grouped into two stages: pre-surgery and post-surgery periods. The patients’ pre-surgery perceptions included noticing warning signs of illness; perceiving heart surgery as a terrifying and life-threatening experience; and recognizing the causes of the illnesses that led to the surgery. Perceptions in the post-operational period involved accepting their predicament, finding refuge in religion and dispelling the fear of death. The findings suggest that the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and the development of holistic rehabilitation programs for CABG surgery patients should take into consideration socio-cultural factors in addition to physical treatment.