Perception and feelings of cardiac post-surgical patients towards visitation

Abstract

This research intends to know the perceptions and feelings of cardiac post-surgical patients towards visitation, adjustment of visitation times and who’s visit is the best. It is a qualitative study with a descriptive and exploratory character. Five adult patients were interviewed on the sixth day after surgery. To analyse the data we used Content Analysis as suggested by Bardin (1977). The results show that the patients consider the family as the main support for their condition. The time of visitation is enough for this critical moment and the family is also the ideal visitor. The difficulties to communicate with the visitor, however, are evident due to their physical and emotional conditions.