Discharge after coronary artery bypass grafting: A qualitative study highlighting the need for individualised, person-centred care

Melanie Rushton, Michelle Howarth, Heather Iles-Smith

Abstract

This study explores patient preparedness and support during discharge following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Despite the importance of effective discharge planning, many patients feel unprepared and unsupported, which can hinder recovery and increase readmission risk.

Introduction

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a global concern [1] and is acknowledged to be a leading cause of death in many countries [2]. Typical treatment for improving cardiac circulation includes procedures such as a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). CABG is a common procedure with 160,000 isolated CABG surgeries in the United States reported in 2019 [3].

Methods

This qualitative study used an adapted constructivist grounded theory approach [22] to capture meaningful, subjective data and provide an insight into the participants experience of person-centred discharge planning and education following non-urgent CABG surgery.

Results

A total of 11 (10 male) CABG patients, between 52 and 72 years, participated in the study over a period of 2 years. The sample was predominantly male as the pool of eligible participants reflected the clinical population undergoing CABG surgery.

Discussion

A person-centred approach to discharge education is crucial in preparing patients both before their surgery and for their discharge home [27]. PCC means looking beyond the patient and understanding what matters to the person and this is fundamental in discharge planning.

Conclusion

Despite the high expectations and positive outlook about the benefits of the surgery, participants displayed issues with their discharge period due to being unprepared, not wanting to, or not knowing how to seek further support and purely relying on an information booklet.

Citation: Rushton M, Howarth M, Iles-Smith H (2026) Discharge after coronary artery bypass grafting: A qualitative study highlighting the need for individualised, person-centred care. PLoS One 21(6): e0349948. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349948
Editor: Erfan Ghadirzadeh, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF

Received: October 27, 2025; Accepted: May 7, 2026; Published: June 17, 2026

Copyright: © 2026 Rushton et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the manuscript.

Funding: This study was financially supported by the University of Salford (https://www.salford.ac.uk) in the form of a Vice Chancellor Early Career Research Scholarship award received by MH. No additional external funding was received for this study.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.