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. 2017 Dec;4(4):202-209.
doi: 10.1177/2374373517715010. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

The Experience of Patients During the Clinical Management Pathway of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms at a NHS Trust

Regent Lee  1   2 , Amy Jones  1 , Felicity Woodgate  2 , Kirthi Bellamkonda  1 , Nicholas Killough  2 , Lucy Fulford-Smith  1 , Katherine Hurst  1   2 , Ismail Cassimjee  1   2 , Ashok Handa  1   2
Affiliations

The Experience of Patients During the Clinical Management Pathway of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms at a NHS Trust

Regent Lee et al. J Patient Exp. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: The epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is changing. Outcomes for aortic surgery have improved. However, the accepted guideline for the management of AAAs has remained unchanged over the last 2 decades. We aimed to gain insight into the patients' experience while they are managed under the traditional clinical pathway.

Method: With the help of a patient focus group, we designed a survey to assess the patients' perception of the disease and their experience during different stages of the AAA clinical care pathway (surveillance, perioperative care, postoperative follow-up). An invitation to participate in the survey was sent to all patients with AAA who were receiving care at the Oxford Regional Vascular Services Unit, part of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Results: We received 194 responses from patients with AAA. One hundred seventy-seven were male, with a median age of 75 to 79 years. Just over a third had undergone surgery already, and the remaining 63% were either in surveillance or awaiting surgery. Their experience during the AAA management pathway was mostly positive. Of the issues that were most important to them in terms of their medical care, the provision of explanation and regularity of monitoring stood out as the most common considerations.

Conclusion: Patients are generally satisfied with the care they received, but there is room for improvement. They have also highlighted key areas that are most important to them in terms of their medical care. These should guide the future direction for quality improvement and research.

Keywords: NHS; abdominal aortic aneurysm; patient and public involvement.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author(s) declared no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Patients’ response regarding how preoccupied they were with the size or growth of their aneurysm.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Patients’ response regarding the explanation regarding the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and the surveillance process. A, Most patients felt that they were satisfied with the explanation that they were provided on “what is an AAA?” B, Similarly, they responded positively when asked if the monitoring process was adequately explained.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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