Issues in Cardiovascular NursingThe recovery mosaic: Older women's lived experiences after a myocardial infarction*
Section snippets
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this research was to examine the lived experiences of initial recovery (within 4 to 6 weeks) for older women with a first time AMI to gain greater insight into the context and essence of this experience—essentially to learn what this life experience meant to these women. The broad research question was: “I would like to learn from you about your experience since you have been home from the hospital, how you have felt emotionally and physically, and any challenges you may have
Research design
This study used an inductive descriptive method, specifically, Heideggerian phenomenology, as it is “interested in the origin of knowledge embedded in our everyday activities,”30 and aimed to draw from the participants a vivid picture of their lived experiences, as shaped by the context of their situations.31 In keeping with phenomenologic tradition, the interviews were guided by the participants with the assumption that they would describe what was meaningful to them.32
The methodologic
Findings: The mosaic of recovery
Each participant's account of the recovery experience was unique and highly contextual. Analysis of the transcripts unveiled a multidimensional framework called a “mosaic of recovery,” which came from the words of 1 participant who described her recovery as, “I find it's been like a jigsaw puzzle and all the pieces are falling into place.” The mosaic captures the essence of what these women experienced in their initial recovery as they tried to regain a pattern to their lives and create a new
Discussion
Findings detailed how each of these women described daily reflection on the experience of having had an AMI. By week 5, all of the participants appeared to accept that they had had an AMI and were subsequently making changes in their lives. Similar to Sutherland and Jensen,24 who found that elderly women used the AMI experience as an opportunity to grow, the participants in this study used the challenge of learning to live with their disease to create a new picture for themselves.
The findings
Implications for nursing practice
This study underscores the need for health promotion campaigns to target the specific needs of older women. Women in this study underestimated their susceptibility for having MIs and were confused as to the presentation of symptoms that resulted in delays in seeking medical help. Informational pamphlets should include more information in regards to the specific differences women have in relation to precipitating factors, nature of the pain, and associated symptoms.54 In addition, subsequent
Conclusion
This study shows what other investigators have found with older women as they recover with AMI: that recovery was cyclical in nature,22 that women measured their progress through symptom comparison,22, 24 with fatigue and weakness being prevalent symptoms,16, 17, 22 and that the women had difficulty with role adjustment, particularly in relation to their loss of the homemaker role.46, 48 All women had small but effective support networks including family and friends. Older women in this study
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Cited by (23)
The effectiveness and experience of self-management following acute coronary syndrome: A review of the literature
2016, International Journal of Nursing StudiesCitation Excerpt :The recovery process made progress towards reorientation enabling a new life focus and a new balance in self and relationships (Hildingh et al., 2006). Participants expressed their desire to ‘get back to normal’ (Sutherland and Jensen, 2000; Tobin, 2000; White et al., 2011) and described spending a great degree of time during the first few weeks planning and initiating a variety of strategies to take care of themselves such as conserving energy in performing household chores and meal preparation (Kerr and Fothergill-Bourbonnais, 2002). By the end of the third week following hospital discharge, participants generally expected to be able to return to work and resume their previous activities (Jackson et al., 2000).
Women's experiences of recovery after myocardial infarction: A meta-synthesis
2007, Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical CareCitation Excerpt :Even women who no longer had children at home experienced an internal conflict when implementing necessary changes after the MI. One woman described how she lost her normal status in her son’s household, in which she regularly babysat, cooked, ironed, and cleaned.37 She was sad to not be permitted to perform these activities as mother and grandmother anymore because she wanted to protect those nearest to her.
Getting to the heart of social support: A qualitative analysis of the types of instrumental support that are most helpful in motivating cardiac risk factor modification
2005, Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical CareIntrusion and confusion - The impact of medication and health professionals after acute myocardial infarction
2005, European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
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Reprint requests: Evelyn E. Kerr, RN, The Ottawa Hospital, Nursing Professional Practice Dept, 501 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6.