Patient and staff perspective of a nurse-led support programme for patients waiting for cardiac surgery: participant perspective of a cardiac support programme.

Background: A nurse-led support and education programme for patients waiting for coronary artery bypass surgery was evaluated in a randomised controlled trial of 188 patients at a tertiary centre in the UK.

Aim: To add a qualitative perspective to the evaluation by exploring patients' experience while taking part in the trial and staff views of the patients' experience and the intervention.

Methods: A purposive sample of 19 patients was interviewed and the transcriptions read to staff during focus groups.