Effective factors in nursing care for cardiovascular patients with opioid dependence disorder: A qualitative study

Caring is a central concept in nursing and is especially critical for patients with comorbidities, such as the coexistence of cardiovascular diseases and substance use disorders. However, limited information is available regarding the effective factors of the care provided to these patients. The study aimed to investigate the effective contextual factors in the care of hospitalized patients with cardiovascular disease and opium dependence disorder.

This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 2023. The participants were 13 nurses who were purposefully selected from the cardiac and internal cardiac intensive care units of hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health in Iran. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and conventional content analysis proposed by Graneheim and Lundman (2004) was used to analyze the data.

In the analysis, microconditions encompassed factors like nurses' attitudes, insufficient knowledge, and patient behavioral issues, while macroconditions involved an unsafe workplace, an atmosphere of distrust, difficulty managing pain, and false cultural beliefs.

Delivering healthcare services by utilizing scientific evidence for decision-making and actions in healthcare is one of the general policies of the health system. Recognizing these elements can aid managers, researchers, and clinical nurses in enhancing nursing care through adjustments to these influential factors.