Exploring the triggers of psychological distress among Jordanian patients with heart failure: a phenomenological study
ISSN: 1366-3666
Article publication date: 28 October 2022
Issue publication date: 22 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of triggers of psychological distress among Jordanian patients with heart failure (HF).
Design/methodology/approach
A phenomenological study was adopted. In-depth, semi-structured, audio-taped interviews were conducted for 25 patients with HF. The analysis was done using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Findings
The main theme of the findings can be expressed as “faced with stressors that are unable to cope with”, which encompasses circumstances and contexts associated with the psychological distress they faced. The following four sub-themes emerged from the data: being endorsed in significant life changes, feeling guilty about being a burden, financial burden aggravating stress and feeling overwhelmed by the fear of death.
Originality/value
The findings revealed that psychological distress is affected directly by many triggers. The findings indicate the need for informing health-care providers to support these patients and address the challenges and develop clinical guidelines to assess psychological distress among these patients.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants who kindly agreed to participate in this study and be interviewed.
Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency or commercial sectors.
Ethical statement: This study conforms with the principles outlined in the declaration of Helsinki.
Declaration of competing interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Citation
Abu Sumaqa, Y., Hayajneh, F.A., Alnaeem, M., Alhamory, S., Ayasreh, I.R. and Abu-Abbas, M. (2023), "Exploring the triggers of psychological distress among Jordanian patients with heart failure: a phenomenological study", Working with Older People, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 263-272. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-09-2022-0042
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited