Perceptions of Women Living With Coronary Heart Disease: An Overview of Study Findings.
OBJECTIVE: To describe how 41 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease (CHD) perceive their illness experience. METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted at two community hospitals in New Jersey. Predetermined questions explored psychosocial and gender sensitive issues. Data collection and analysis was based on the grounded theory. RESULTS: Participants often failed to recognize the significance of risk factors and symptoms, and even denied the presence of disease following diagnosis and treatment. Consequences of illness centered on women's efforts to maintain control over their health and their lives. A gap existed between the desire for knowledge and the ability to access and assimilate information in key areas regarding CHD and personal health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Although not generalizable to the population at large, the insights provided by these women have several implications for future research and contribute valuable information related to the needs of this population. (c)1999 by CVRR, Inc.
Lisk
Cynthia J.
CJ
Doctors+Designers, Westfield, NJ.
Grau
Lois
L