Mothers' Experiences of Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Qualitative Study

Background: Surgery for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) elevates maternal physical and mental stress, potentially impacting the quality of care provided to the child. Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate mothers' experiences surrounding their child's CHD surgery. Methods: In this qualitative content analysis study, we included 20 mothers of children admitted to Tehran Children's Medical Center Hospital for CHD surgery using purposive sampling. Unstructured interviews and field notes were utilized perioperatively for data collection. Analysis was conducted concurrently with data collection employing the Graneheim and Lundman content analysis approach. Rigor was ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Results: The findings were categorized into four themes: (1) "The Bitter and Difficult Motherhood Experience" stemming from the shock of the child's abnormality and subsequent challenges in caregiving; (2) mothers engaged in "In Search of Reassurance," striving for accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment quality through information seeking and accessing superior medical services; (3) "Tides in Supportive Networks" reflected varying degrees of support from personnel, peers, and surrounding individuals, ranging from conscientiousness to stressfulness; (4) Mothers attained a state of "Relative Calm After the Storm" by navigating through the surgery ordeal with spirituality and hope despite enduring anxieties. Conclusions: The journey through a child's CHD surgery proved harrowing for mothers due to the initial shock and ongoing caregiving challenges. Care provision should prioritize maternal readiness and empowerment, emphasize professional conduct, reassurance, spiritual care, and steer social support networks towards positive contributions.