Waiting 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.

Mixed-methods cross-sectional survey, with explanatory concurrent design.

Four cardiac surgery services across two National Health Service Trusts in London.

Patients on waiting lists for elective cardiac surgery at Royal Brompton, Harefield, St Thomas and King’s College hospitals between October 2023 and March 2024.

Experience of waiting for surgery, and preferences about how waiting time could be improved.

554 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.

This 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.

NCT05996640.