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Swedish men and smoking: Views on screening‐detected abdominal aortic aneurysm
Author(s) -
Holmström Inger K.,
Bohlin Sofia,
Wanhainen Anders,
Björck Martin,
Fröjd Camilla
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1111/nhs.12570
Subject(s) - smoking cessation , medicine , thematic analysis , abdominal aortic aneurysm , qualitative research , quit smoking , family medicine , surgery , aneurysm , pathology , social science , sociology
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), most common among elderly male smokers, often show no symptoms before rupture. To facilitate better care and counselling targeted to smoking cessation for these patients, more knowledge is required about their views. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe the views on AAA and smoking among male smokers with screening‐detected AAA. A qualitative approach with individual interviews with 16 men with screening‐detected AAA was applied. Three had quit smoking by the time of the interviews. Thematic analysis was performed, and four themes emerged: (i) accepting the course of life; (ii) the elusive AAA: a disturbing experiencing or merely a minor inconvenience?; (iii) being in safe hands; and (iv) smoking as an unexpected topic of discussion. Most of the participants felt they were in “safe hands”, although thoughts about death were also evoked. However, the information about smoking cessation was unexpected, and the relationship between AAA and smoking unclear. Presenting the connection between AAA and smoking in a clear manner and motivating smoking cessation in an individually‐targeted way are important.