Clinician perspectives on education resources for transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients: A thematic analysis of qualitative interviews

Background Severe aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular disease in the Western world, and without surgical intervention, it causes morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a treatment option for frail patients. Patient education pre- and postoperatively varies widely, and there has been no previous exploration of clinician perspectives on patient educational needs. Aim The aim of this study was to explore clinician perspectives on education for people undergoing TAVI and how it impacts surgery and recovery. The central research question was "What do clinicians perceive are the educational needs of patients undergoing TAVI before, during, and after their procedure?" Methods Qualitative interviews with a constructivist lens were used. Clinicians who provide care to patients undergoing TAVI and families at two TAVI centres in Melbourne, Australia, were invited to participate. Four nurses and three physicians participated in individual semistructured audio-recorded qualitative telephone interviews. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings Two themes resulted from the interviews. Theme 1: Current TAVI education practice, and Theme 2: Desired TAVI education practice. Key findings included the current paucity and inadequacy of written resources provided to patients undergoing TAVI, and the clear professional difference in opinions between nurses and doctors on whether such written resources are necessary. Discussion Nurses reported that written resources are needed to support patient recovery, while doctors were ambivalent about them. Clinicians had varying views about patient needs, which were clearly different between nurses and doctors. Conclusion Comprehensive hardcopy written resources for patients undergoing TAVI would support patient recovery and well-being.