Scand J Caring Sci. 2026 Sep;40(3):e70310. doi: 10.1111/scs.70310.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis requires long-term antibiotic treatment, often involving a lengthy hospitalisation. These extended stays frequently lead to patients experiencing feelings of isolation from their daily lives, which can result in loneliness and concerns for their families. Despite this, there is a notable gap in recent research regarding patients' experiences during long-term hospitalisation and treatment.
AIM: This study aimed to explore the experiences of adult patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis during their long-term hospitalisation and treatment trajectory within a cardiac ward setting.
METHODS: This qualitative study explored patients' lived experiences of long-term hospitalisation with infective endocarditis. Ten patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis were purposively sampled. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. The COREQ guidelines were followed to ensure transparency.
RESULTS: Three themes and six subthemes were identified: (1) Experiencing time in connection and isolation, with subthemes (a) perceptions of time and (b) moments of connection shape the day; (2) Fragmented care and a fragile sense of self, with subthemes (a) I am still a whole person and (b) bodily experience during treatment; and (3) Navigating uncertainty and seeking trust, with subthemes (a) no one can tell me when… and (b) seeking stability and trust.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with infective endocarditis experienced long-term hospitalisation as characterised by temporal uncertainty, social isolation despite regular family contact, fragmented attention to health needs beyond the infection, and disrupted continuity in relationships with healthcare professionals. Although patients did not always perceive themselves as acutely ill, continuous monitoring and prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment restricted their everyday routines and social participation. These findings highlight the importance of relational continuity, communication, and attention to patients' psychosocial needs during long-term hospitalisation with infective endocarditis.
PMID:42605504 | DOI:10.1111/scs.70310