Observational studyBMJ open2026
Patient experience and preference while waiting for elective cardiac surgery: a mixed-methods cross-sectional survey across four major National Health Service hospitals in London.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05996640 (Investigating Patient Preferences and Experiences of Waiting for Elective Heart Surgery), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Investigating Patient Preferences and Experiences of Waiting for Elective Heart Surgery: a Cross-sectional Online Survey
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesWaiting for cardiac surgery is a stressful life event for most patients. Exploring what people experience while waiting and understanding their preferences and views on how waiting time could be improved will help to inform new strategies for more efficacious waiting list management. In this study, we explored experiences and views of people waiting for elective cardiac surgery across four major London hospitals.
designMixed-methods cross-sectional survey, with explanatory concurrent design.
settingFour cardiac surgery services across two National Health Service Trusts in London.
participantsPatients on waiting lists for elective cardiac surgery at Royal Brompton, Harefield, St Thomas and King's College hospitals between October 2023 and March 2024. OUTCOME MEASURES: Experience of waiting for surgery, and preferences about how waiting time could be improved.
results554 out of 1041 invited participants agreed to participate (recruitment rate 53.2%). Among them, 274 fully completed the survey (completion rate 49.5%). Most participants (from 52.2% to 70.9%) reported their daily and social activities were impacted by their cardiac condition, and worrying was an ubiquitous feeling (reported by 86%). Psychological distress was reported differently across women and men (higher in women). Eight themes were identified: worrying, daily activities, family/friends and social activities, sexual life, waiting list experience and feelings, communication, most important factors for surgery and suggested improvements. Communication with the surgeon and clinical team, and regular updates on waiting list progress are suggested as crucial factors to alleviate stress, thus potentially improving the experience of waiting for the surgery.
conclusionsThis study highlights the importance of emotional support, clear communication, regular updates on waiting list progress and building trust with the clinical team to improve patient-centred care while waiting for elective cardiac surgery. This finding can offer valuable insights for managing waiting lists in other surgery waiting list contexts.
trial registrationNCT05996640.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.