The experience of adult inpatients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome after surgery: a qualitative research / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the experience of the postoperative adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome from the patients′ angle and to provide references for improving the postoperative comfort of the patients.Methods:The phenomenology research method was adopted in this study. Thirteen postoperative adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome from Department of Otolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology participated in the in-depth interview with the interview outline. Data were analyzed by using Colaizzi′s phenomenological method.Results:Three level-1 themes and ten level-2 themes were extracted. The physical discomfort included throat discomfort, lacking of enough sleep at night, restricted diet, limitation in speaking. The negative emotion included the sense of worry, helplessness, fidget and regret. The wish of support included the wish of coping strategy and being understanded.Conclusions:The main uncomfortable experience of the patients is the throat discomfort which has the chain reaction and causes the other discomfort. So the nurses should inquire patients initiatively, cooperate with doctors and patients′ family members to relieve patients′ discomfort particularly at night, and then the patients′ quality of life, nurse-patient relationship and patients′ satisfaction may be improved.