Lived experiences of parents of children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease: A phenomenological study

Objective: To explore the psychological experiences of parents whose children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergo surgical treatment. Methodology: This phenomenological study recruited 16 participants through purposive sampling from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou Province, China. Data were collected between November and December 2024 using semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Results: A total of three main themes and six subthemes were identified. The main themes were Navigating Pre-surgical emotional dissonance, Intraoperative emotional turbulence, and Post-surgical emotional adjustment. The subthemes were Fear and uncertainty toward surgery, clinging to hope amid fear, anxiety amplified by waiting and the unknown, the torment of prolonged waiting, momentary relief and renewed hope, and lingering pain and worries. Conclusion: Parents of children with CHD experience significant emotional distress throughout the treatment process. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare providers offer professional psychological support services to parents across all stages of care, to help them cope effectively with stress and promote mental well-being.