Patients' and their partners' experiences of returning home after hospital discharge following acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Returning home from hospital after an acute myocardial infarction [AMI] can be a period of vulnerability both for the patient and his/her partner. This study focuses on the time immediately after discharge.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe the patient's and his/her partner's experiences after hospital discharge following AMI.


METHODS
15 couples took part in individual interviews, 4-8 weeks after discharge. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.


RESULTS
The results are presented by means of three themes, 'at home in one's own home', 'at home within oneself' and 'having normality in sight', comprising ten categories that describe the experiences of both the patient and his/her partner.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients as well as partners described the period after discharge from hospital comprising ambitions of feeling safety in their home, an inner sense of security and seeking normalisation. The results of this study could be useful for nurses when planning for patient discharge. During hospitalization nurses can prepare both the patient and their partner for what to expect when the patient returns home.
Eriksson
Monica
M
Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Ostersund, Sweden. Monica.Eriksson@miun.se
Asplund
Kenneth
K
Svedlund
Marianne
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology