title: [Having an infarction: the meanings of the disease from the patient's perspective].
abstract: This study aimed to identify the meaning of acute myocardial infarction for patients, on the basis of their experiences reports. Given the nature of the problem, this descriptive study used Symbolic Interactionism as a methodological reference framework. Data where obtained through semi-structured interviews with thirteen patients, diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction, admitted at a coronary center of a specialized public hospital in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. Data analysis enabled us to identify that "Having an acute myocardial infarction according to the patient's perspective" was predominantly unexplained, generating negative and sudden feelings.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Pesquisa Educação, Saúde e Sociedade, Universidade Federal do Ceará. ligiamedeiros@superig.com.br
authors.forename: Francisca Lígia de Medeiros Martins
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Thelma Leite
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: de Araújo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology*