title: [Social representations, associated with cardiac heart failure, of couples of whom one member is living with the illness].
abstract: There is a dearth of literature on the beliefs and constructs that influence couples' experience with cardiac heart failure (HF). This article summarizes a qualitative study that aimed to describe social representations associated to HF of II couples with one member diagnosed with the illness. The social representations that emerged from the study as well as the similitude and difference between spouses trigger interesting reflections on their link with the illness experience. A difference between men and women is especially noticeable in the social representations associated to the role of the patient and of the spouse in managing the illness. Results underline the importance of offering support to both members of the couple.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Excellence en soins infirmiers a la famille, Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université de Montréal. fabie.duhamel@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Fabie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duhamel
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reidy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006333:Heart Failure; D006801:Humans; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018454:Spouses