Quality of life in patients after open heart surgery at Thammasat University Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this research were to study quality of life, and to identify the factors (gender, age, postoperative functional class, surgical complications and period of time after surgery) which will predict thequality of life after open heart surgery.

Method: A cross sectional descriptive study in 80 pateints who attended at surgery unit, Thammasat UniversityHospital after recovery from open heart surgery were included in this study. The research instrumentsincluded demographic data form and a quality of life questionnaire. Data was analyzed by means offrequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s product moment correlation coeffi cient andmultiple regression analysis.

Results: The result of this research revealed that all patients had mean of total quality of life score = 26.67(SD = 1.90) while the total score = 30. Specifi cally, the highest mean subscale was at the family domain( = 28.74, SD = 2.98), psychological/spiritual domain ( = 27.08, SD = 2.86), health and functioning domain( = 26.35, SD = 2.56) respectively. Whereas the socioeconomic domain was the lowest mean subscale( = 25.48, SD = 2.73). There was a slightly positive signifi cant relationship among post operative functionalclass and period of time after surgery with quality of life score (r = 0.23, p < 0.05; r = 0.24, p < 0.05 respectively).There was a moderately negative signifi cant relationship between surgical complications and quality oflife score (r = -0.51, p < 0.01). The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that29.3 percent of the variance in total quality of life score could be explained by surgical complicationsand period of time after surgery (R² = 0.293, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: After open heart surgery, the patients had good quality of life level. Surgical complications and periodof time after surgery could predict quality of life. Implication of these fi ndings is useful for the nurseand the health care providers in emphasizing the surgical complications prevention in order to improvepatient’s quality of life.

Key words: Quality of life, Open heart surgery