Experiences of patients with tracheostomy and their caregivers at hospital and home

The study was conducted as a qualitative research based on the phenomenological approach in order to determine the experiences of patients with tracheostomy and their caregivers at hospital and home. The study was carried out with 13 patients with tracheostomy and their caregivers in Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) wards of Ankara University İbni Sina Hospital of and Hacettepe University Adult Hospital between December 2018 and July 2019. Data was collected with data sheet and semi-structured interview questions. The research was completed in two stages. In the first stage, patients' and their caregivers' experiences about tracheostomy process were determined during hospitalization. In the second stage their experiences about tracheostomy process were determined one month after discharge at home. Text printing method was used for patients and voice recording was used for their caregivers as data collection method. The data was transcribed and content analysis was performed by inductive method. It was determined that the majority of patients and caregivers experienced sadness and communication difficulties because of tracheostomy during hospitalization. Besides obstruction of cannula and aspiration experience were defined the worst discomfortable situations. It was found that majority of patients' and caregivers' social life, psychology and economic conditions were negatively affected by the thracheostomy at home. Patients and caregivers had difficulty in communication and bathing and concerned about infection and obstruction of cannula at home. According to these results, it is recommended to support the patients' and caregivers' during hospitalization and after discharge about physical, social, economical and psycologial aspects of the procedure and necessary regulations should taken.