title: Living with a heart transplant: a phenomenological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart transplantation is a relatively new medical treatment for end-stage heart failure. Many studies have addressed the outcomes and the complications and technical problems associated with heart transplants, but few have explored the whole clinical experience of being a heart transplant recipient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand and gain deeper insight into the lived experience of Iranian heart transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews of 11 heart transplant recipients were analyzed according to phenomenological guidelines set forth by Diekelmann.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six major themes emerged from 29 subthemes, depicting the meaning of living with a transplanted heart. These themes include having a new life, living with new concerns, living with vigilance, paradoxical emotions, bearing others' behaviors, and the prominent role of God in life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heart transplant recipients in Iran experience a new life in which their faith in God helps them go through hardships and difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Care Research and School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peyrovi
authors.affiliation: Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan.
authors.forename: Nayyereh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raiesdana
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehrdad
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004644:Emotions; D005086:Existentialism; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012067:Religion