Decision Support Needs for Patients with Severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Social workers in healthcare assist patients with complex medical decisions.
• Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis is a significant medical procedure requiring patient decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the decision support needs of patients considering AVR.
• To understand the experiences of patients who have undergone AVR.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with seventeen patients who accepted AVR.
• A mixed inductive-deductive approach was used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Fear was a common emotional response among patients facing AVR.
• Two primary decision-making styles were identified: active information seeking and passive simplicity seeking.
• Patients with unique clinical presentations reported feeling alienated during the decision-making process.

Conclusions:

• Acknowledging patient fear is crucial for effective support.
• Understanding diverse decision-making styles enhances social worker and multidisciplinary team support for patients undergoing AVR.
• Tailored support strategies can improve the patient experience for complex cardiac procedures.