A thematic analysis of patient experience of AAA

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A thematic analysis of patients' experience of life with abdominal aortic aneurysm

• IRAS ID

  274731

• Contact name

  Teresa Robinson

• Contact email

  Teresa.Robinson@UHBristol.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 4 months, 10 days

• Research summary

  Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the name given to a swelling of the aorta, the main artery in the body that carries blood from the heart, through the chest and the stomach. The majority of patients with AAA do not experience any physical symptoms, however the condition is potentially life-threatening as an aneurysm may rupture, causing significant internal bleeding. The mortality rate following rupture is 60-70%.

  If someone is found to have an aneurysm, they are entered into a “surveillance programme”, where the diameter of the aneurysm is measured frequently using ultrasound scans. Aneurysms are monitored because they can get bigger over time and as they get bigger, they become more likely to burst. If the aneurysm reaches a certain size, the patient may be eligible for surgery to fix it, although surgery can also be risky.

  Currently, there are only a very small number of qualitative (non-numerical) studies on what it is like to live with AAA and how patients experience this condition. Understanding patient experience is important for a number of reasons; in particular, good patient experience is associated with better clinical outcomes, quality of care and utilisation of resources.

  In this study, patients with AAA will be interviewed individually to learn more about what it is like being diagnosed with and living with this condition. The interviewer will ask the patients a short series of pre-determined questions and the patient will be encouraged to describe their feelings and experiences freely around these questions. The interviewer will then analyse the transcripts extensively with the aim to find common patterns (“themes”) between participants. The final write-up will be a rich and in-depth description of what is is like having AAA.

• REC name

  London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  20/LO/0108

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Jan 2020

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion