title: Coronary heart disease patients transitioning to a normal life: perspectives and stages identified through a grounded theory approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how Iranian patients with coronary heart disease experience their lives.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death in Iran and worldwide. Understanding qualitatively how patients experience the acute and postacute stages of this chronic condition is essential knowledge for minimising the negative consequences of coronary heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using grounded theory for the data analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study were collected through individual qualitative interviews with 24 patients with coronary heart disease, conducted between January 2009 and January 2011. Patients with angina pectoris were selected for participation through purposive sampling, and sample size was determined by data saturation. Data analysis began with initial coding and continued with focused coding. Categories were determined, and the core category was subsequently developed and finalised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main categories of the transition from acute phase to a modified or 'new normal' life were: (1) Loss of normal life. Experiencing emotions and consequences of illness; (2) Coming to terms. Using coping strategies; (3) Recreating normal life. Healthcare providers must correctly recognise the stages of transition patients navigate while coping with coronary heart disease to support and educate them appropriately throughout these stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with coronary heart disease lose their normal lives and must work towards recreating a revised life using coping strategies that enable them to come to terms with their situations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By understanding Iranian patients' experiences, healthcare providers and especially nurses can use the information to support and educate patients with coronary heart disease on how to more effectively deal with their illness and its consequences.
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Najafi Ghezeljeh
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yadavar Nikravesh
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: coronary heart disease; grounded theory; life change events; patients' experiences; transition process