What can be learned from patient stories about living with the chronicity of heart illness? A narrative inquiry.
BACKGROUND
Patients' illness stories are valuable information that supports person-centred care across the illness trajectory.


OBJECTIVE
To learn how older South Asian immigrant women experience living with heart illness long after discharge from hospital.


METHODS
We used narrative inquiry, a personal experience method that explores and interprets lived and told stories through the three dimensions of experience.


METHODS
Four participants, over the age of sixty, living with heart illness for over ten years, were invited to engage in narrative interview and Narrative Reflective Process.


RESULTS
Giving patients voice, allows caregivers insight into the human experience of illness beyond hospitalization. Considering the increased migration of people around the globe, this knowledge is significant in provision of person-centred care.


CONCLUSIONS
Person-centred care does not end with the hospitalization and outpatient clinics. Inter-disciplinary teams need to reconsider the trajectory of chronic illnesses and the care required throughout, especially for marginalized populations.
a Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing , Ryerson University , 350 Victoria Street, Toronto , ON , Canada M5B 2K3.
Jasna Krmpotić
JK
Schwind
a Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing , Ryerson University , 350 Victoria Street, Toronto , ON , Canada M5B 2K3.
Suzanne
S
Fredericks
b Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing , University of Western Ontario , 1151 Richmond St, London , ON , Canada N6A 3K7.
Kateryna
K
Metersky
a Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing , Ryerson University , 350 Victoria Street, Toronto , ON , Canada M5B 2K3.
Victoria Gaudite
VG
Porzuczek
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Narrative Reflective Process; narrative inquiry; nursing; older immigrant women; patient illness stories; person-centred care