Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Education and Promotion

Advisor

Beverly Neville

Abstract

Abstract

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the most common type of birth defect and can affect more than 30,000 infants each year. However, CHDs diagnosed in adulthood are becoming a growing public health concern. When the defect is not diagnosed in infancy or childhood, adult individuals may experience an array of signs and symptoms leading to the diagnosis of a CHD. CHDs that are undiagnosed until an individual reaches adulthood can cause many health complications. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of adults diagnosed with a CHD between ages 18 and 55 in the United States. The health belief model was the theoretical framework used to explore the lives of individuals diagnosed with a CHD as an adult. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 individuals diagnosed in adulthood; data were video recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic coding, stored in MAXQDA, and categorized for commonality. Results revealed themes that individuals with late diagnosis of a congenital heart defect experienced concerns regarding the diagnosis of their defect. Data derived from this study may be used to develop educational material to bring awareness of CHDs through various platforms. Recommended areas for further research include repeating the study with smaller research studies in clinical settings to help with the development of health education material and other research-related activities, by developing the knowledge and skill of health care professionals, and implementing procedures and protocols that could help identify, validate, and associate best practices through effective screenings based on patient concerns regarding their health.

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