Objective:

To describe the comfort and the factors that affect it in the adult patient hospitalized in a CVICU.

Methodology:

Mixed approach involving a qualitative study and, simultaneously, the collection of quantitative data to perform a triangulation. The sample corresponds to 45 patients in December 2015 and January 2016 in a CVICU of Bogota. We applied a semi-structured interview and Kolcaba’s comfort instrument (GCQ).

Results:

Six categories were obtained. Among the factors that altered the comfort were: perception of not being able to carry out activities; feeling confined, perception of noise or having to do their bodily functions in presence of unknown people. The factors that improved comfort were: to be able to count on a close person and the spiritual support.

Conclusions:

The level of comfort at the CVICU was high according to the GCQ questionnaire, the most mentioned area was the physical one. There are factors that facilitate comfort such as having a close person. The greatest discomfort is related to the inability to meet needs associated with hygiene, instead depending on other people to achieve them. The mixed methodology allowed a broad description of the comfort of patients at the cvicu.

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