WOMEN'S EXPERIENCE FOLLOWING AN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.
Contributors: University of Virginia.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 265
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Women's Studies.; Health Sciences, Mental Health.
Description: Purpose. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in women over 40 years of age, significantly contributes to the cause of death in younger women, and is the underlying cause of 250,000 female deaths annually in the United States (Heasley & Hughes, 1985; Wenger, 1992b). Much research has been conducted about every aspect of heart disease; yet, the subjects have been mostly men. The purpose of this study was to describe the woman's experience. The fundamental question was "What was the experience of women following an acute myocardial infarction?".

Sample. A purposive sample of seven women who had experienced a documented myocardial infarction comprised the sample. At the time of their infarcts, the women's ages ranged from forty-three to fifty-nine. Five were married, two were divorced. One of the six women who had children had minor children living at home.

Methods. This descriptive study used qualitative methodology. Open ended questions were asked in face to face, taped interviews. The analysis was based on the constant comparative methods of Glaser and Strauss using themes as the unit of analysis. The typed interviews were returned to the participants for data verification.

Findings. Eight themes emerged from these data: (1) "women don't have heart attacks," (2) "household work is not work," (3) "fear and depression occur after an MI," (4) "women are family caretakers," (5) "alterations in family relationships occur after an MI," (6) "women view recovery holistically," (7) "social support is important", and (8) "the MI experience can result in positive outcomes." Each theme consisted of various components. Moos' theory of stress and coping guided the study.

Implications. This study described selected women's experiences of their acute myocardial infarctions. The woman's definition of self, her role in the family, her perception of the meaning of the illness, and her ability to cognitively appraise the situation and select appropriate adaptive tasks determine the experience of an acute myocardial infarction for a woman. Educational programs and research are needed to facilitate appropriate nursing interventions and counseling for women during this experience.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-09, Section: B, page: 4818.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, 1995.

School code: 0246.