Abstract
Acute myocardial infarction threatens patients’ psychological balance and causes varied coping needs.
The aim was to describe factors that influence patients’ coping with acute MI during hospitalization.
The data were obtained by theme interviews from 28 myocardial infarction patients and analyzed by the grounded theory method.
The core category “Coping with myocardial infarction: Seeking lost control” was found to include two main categories: factors supporting coping and factors interfering with coping. The factors were related to patients, conditions and interaction.
Nurses need to become aware of their patients’ needs to maintain a sense of control over their situation. They also need to focus on empowering counselling and mental support, and assist in patient–family interaction. Updating education on the recognition of depression and on the factors that affect coping is indicated.
The findings of this study can be used in health care education and in nursing practice when organizing counselling and support interventions for MI patients.
