It is not just a minor thing – A phenomenological-hermeneutic study of patients’ experiences when afflicted by a minor heart attack and participating in cardiac rehabilitation
Engelsk titel: It is not just a minor thing – A phenomenological-hermeneutic study of patients’ experiences when afflicted by a minor heart attack and participating in cardiac rehabilitation
Läs online
Författare:
Simony, Charlotte P
;
Dreyer, Pia
;
Pedersen, Birthe D
;
Birkelund, Regner
Email: cpsi@regionsjealland.dk
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 36
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 17070115
Sammanfattning
Background: To improve cardiac care, especially cardiac rehabilitation, patients’ perspectives should be better addressed. In Denmark, patients afflicted by a minor heart attack in terms of unstable angina pectoris or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction are treated in fast-track programmes with subacute treatment in hospital, early discharge and follow-up specialised outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Knowledge of these patients’ experiences of their life situation is essential to develop sufficient care protocols.
Aim: To gain in-depth understanding of how patients afflicted by a minor heart attack experience their life situation when following cardiac rehabilitation.
Methods: Focus group interviews and individual interviews were conducted with 11 patients enrolled in the cardiac rehabilitation programme. Data consisted of text in the form of transcribed interviews. A three-phased interpretation inspired by Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation was applied.
Findings: As an overall concept, the patients experienced being forced into a demanding life shaking journey. Three themes emerged: Difficulty accepting the disease: facing the disease is a difficult challenge for the patients, leading to vulnerability and helplessness; Understanding that life has become frail: patients feel shaken as they realise that the disease is chronic and life-threatening; and An altered life: patients must adjust to new limitations in their everyday lives.
Conclusions: Patients experience an overall demanding transition when they are afflicted by a minor heat attack, whereby their lives are sweepingly changed. Supporting patients’ integrity, which becomes vulnerable during the various stages of transitions, is essential to ensure a healthy outcome. Being together with fellow patients during cardiac rehabilitation is a facilitating factor in the course of transition. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.