title: Dealing with coronary artery disease in early encountering: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is rising in industrial and developing countries. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease. Thus, understanding the signs and risk factors of CAD from the patients' perspective and their ways of dealing with this disease is of vital importance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This qualitative study aimed to explore the Iranian patients' viewpoints about CAD and how they dealt with it in their first encounter.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a qualitative content analysis conducted on 18 patients with CAD. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Initially, purposeful sampling was performed followed by maximum variety. Sampling continued until data saturation. Then, all the interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. After all, the data were analyzed by constant comparative analysis using MAXQUDA2010 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The themes manifested in this study included "invasion of disease" with subthemes of "warning signs" and "risk factors" and "confrontation strategies" with subthemes of "seeking for information", "follow-up", and "control measures".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study described the patients' perceptions of CAD and how they dealt with this disorder in early encountering. Based on the results, physicians and nurses should focus on empowerment of patients by facilitating this process as well as by educating them with regards to dealing with CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mojalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karimi Moonaghi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khosravan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadpure
keywords: Coronary Artery Disease; Iran; Patients; Qualitative Research