Women’s experiences of returning to work after open heart surgery: A descriptive qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Open-heart surgery profoundly affects every aspect of a patient's life, with return to work post-surgery being a particularly significant milestone in their recovery. Returning to work is a significant step during reintegration into society and an important factor in their quality of life. Recent studies show that women experience more complications and have longer sick leaves and post-surgery than men. Gender-specific socio-cultural and physiological factors may add unique challenges to women and, therefore, tailored support may be essential during this critical recovery phase. Despite its importance among patients who have undergone surgery, specific research conducted on women's post-surgery return to work experiences remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To conduct in-depth research into the experiences of women facing their return to work after open-heart surgery. DESIGN: This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach, conducting semi-structured interviews one year post-discharge through digital or in-person meetings. METHODS: A prospective criterion sampling was used. All the participants were working-aged women between 18 and 65 years and were Norwegian residents. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, ensuring a precise textual representation of their spoken words. Thematic analysis, employing an inductive, semantic approach, was conducted to identify the patterns of themes within the data on the women's meaning of their transition back to work. RESULTS: The interviews identified three significant themes, highlighting the women's post-surgical experiences regarding their return to work: "Mismatch between reality and expectation", "A lonesome struggle" and "Reconsidering the value of work". CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the nuanced challenges Norwegian women face when returning to work after surgery, emphasising the need for holistic, psychosocially informed post-operative care. The findings advocate for healthcare providers to integrate awareness of patients' professional lives into care plans, facilitating more personalised support and guidance. Our research calls for a more comprehensive care model, marking a significant step towards improving gender-sensitive healthcare practices.