Perceptions of received information, social support, and coping in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Bodil Ivarsson; Björn Ekmehag; Roger Hesselstrand; Göran Rådegran; Trygve Sjöberg

doi:10.4137/CCRPM.S18586

Perceptions of received information, social support, and coping in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Clin Med Insights Circ Respir Pulm Med. 2014 Oct 23:8:21-8. doi: 10.4137/CCRPM.S18586. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Bodil Ivarsson¹, Björn Ekmehag², Roger Hesselstrand³, Göran Rådegran⁴, Trygve Sjöberg⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. ; The clinic for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. ; Medical Services, University Healthcare, Skåne, Sweden.
² Department of Public Health and Caring Science, Uppsala University, and Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
³ Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. ; The clinic for Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Cardiology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. ; The Section for Heart Failure and Valvular Disease, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
⁵ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. ; The clinic for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

Abstract

Patients with a life-limiting diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) need disease-specific information, ability to cope, and functioning social networks. This cohort study investigated the experiences of PAH and CTEPH patients who received information about their diagnosis, treatment, and management, in addition to coping and social support. Sixty-eight adult patients (mean ± SD, age 67 ± 14; 66% women) were included. A total of 54% of the patients wanted more information. Patients received information mostly in areas concerning medical test procedures, the diagnosis, disease severity, possible disease causes, and how to manage their disease. Coping ability was significantly better in patients who were satisfied with the received information (P = 0.0045). The information given to PAH or CTEPH patients and their communication with healthcare professionals can be greatly improved. Gaps in information and misunderstandings can be avoided by working in cooperation with the patients, their relatives, and within the PAH team.

Keywords: chronic disease; communication; mastery; patient preference; professional–patient relations; social support.