Experiences in changing the lifestyle in patients with myocardial infarct

Aim of the study. To reveal the life-changing experience of patients with myocardial infarction. Objectives. 1. To reveal the changes in the behavior of patients after they have been diagnosed with myocardial infarction. 2. To reveal what lifestyle changes mean for patients with myocardial infarction. Methods. Qualitative research was chosen using a descriptive phenomenology strategy, according to A. Giorgi's method. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. The study involved 8 subjects: 3 men and 5 women. The selection of the subjects was targeted. The entire duration of the interviews was recorded and transcribed. Results. The research revealed the themes that uncovered the investigated phenomenon, namely the essence of the experiences: 1. „Why did this happen?“ searching for causes of myocardial infarction; 2. Changes in everyday life: from „everything needed to be changed“ to „the disease did not restrain me“; 3. Specialists and their (non)support; 4. Acceptance of everyday life and giving a meaning to it. Conclusions. 1. The study revealed that it is important for patients to find the cause of myocardial infarction. The informants' narratives were dominated by a number of causes that patients perceived to be likely the cause for developing myocardial infarction: smoking, hard work, personal experiences, inheritance. 2. The study revealed the need for informants to change their daily habits and lead a healthier life as well as a desire to continue living as they did before myocardial infarction without changing anything. Fear of disease recurrence, reduced physical capacity, feeling of helplessness and hopelessness and relatives' support contributed to the lifestyle changes of the study participants. 3. The informants' stories revealed different experiences with health professionals while changing or not changing their lifestyle after experiencing myocardial infarction. Most informants lacked the presence of health professionals and personalized information on a healthy lifestyle. 4. For the participants in the study lifestyle changes meant accepting and giving meaning to their everyday life. Gratitude, coping with stress and a sense of spirituality helped the informants to deal with life's challenges and motivated them to choose a healthy lifestyle