Abstract

SOLANO RUIZ, Mª del Carmen; SILES GONZALEZ, José  and  FERNANDES DE FREITAS, Genival. The experience of spouses whose partners have suffered a myocardial infarction: a phenomenological study. Index Enferm [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.1, pp.7-11. ISSN 1699-5988.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) significantly influences the quality of life for the patients and their family, particularly with the partner. The aim this study was to Know and to understand the lived experience of spouses whose partners have suffered a myocardial infarction. This is a qualitative study with a perspective phenomenological social. Five women, whose partners have suffered a AMI 12 moths before, were depth interviews in your home. The findings from the participants were analysed using phenomenological social Schutz´s method. Two major themes were then extracted from the results: "living in a changed life situation" and "feeling about the illness". Conclusions: the women revealed lived a hard and difficult process with very important changes in life situation: the need to leave the work for to be with ill and the need to take responsibility.

Keywords : phenomenological social; acute myocardial infarction; spouse's experiences; cardiac rehabilitation.