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Women's experiences of T akotsubo cardiomyopathy in a short‐term perspective – a qualitative content analysis
Author(s) -
Dahlviken Rønnaug M.,
Fridlund Bengt,
Mathisen Lars
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12158
Subject(s) - cardiomyopathy , medicine , qualitative research , coping (psychology) , perspective (graphical) , disease , context (archaeology) , content analysis , health care , myocardial infarction , heart failure , clinical psychology , cardiology , sociology , computer science , economics , biology , economic growth , social science , paleontology , artificial intelligence
Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a reversible condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction. The phenomenon is associated with emotional and physical stressful trigger events. Evidence‐based patient counselling should be based on disease‐specific knowledge of patient experiences. Aim The aim of the study was to describe women's experiences of T akotsubo cardiomyopathy in a short‐term perspective. Design The study design was explorative and descriptive. Method Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 14 women diagnosed with T akotsubo cardiomyopathy, 1 day to 9 months after hospitalisation. The transcriptions underwent qualitative content analysis. Findings The main theme that emerged was T akotsubo cardiomyopathy as a continuous process of making sense and adapting. To begin with, understanding and coping with signs and symptoms were described as having a diversity of signs and symptoms, taking actions towards signs and symptoms, receiving treatment for suspected ST /non ST ‐elevation myocardial infarction diagnosis and finally being diagnosed with T akotsubo cardiomyopathy. Understanding the context of illness was expressed as getting treated for T akotsubo cardiomyopathy diagnosis and having previous stressful conditions of life. The changing perspective that emanated was a combination of having prospects and expectations and experiencing limitations. Finally, managing to live with T akotsubo cardiomyopathy was manifested as returning home with the illness and receiving follow‐up health care. Conclusion Information on regaining prior health status and capacity within a short‐term perspective may not be accurate. These women struggle and require education and counselling from healthcare professionals to comprehend and manage having a T akotsubo cardiomyopathy diagnosis. Women experiencing T akotsubo cardiomyopathy may be a target group for holistic and individual health care with a longer duration of follow‐up.