title: Opium addiction in patients with coronary artery disease: a grounded theory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are widespread misconceptions about the positive effects of opium on coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, we performed a study to explore the opium addiction process contributing factors among CAD patients using a grounded theory approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 30 addicted CAD patients and their family members, physicians, nurses and friends. Purposive and theoretical sampling was employed; semi-structured interviews were conducted. Coding and constant comparative analysis techniques were as proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1998).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The core category was 'Fighting for Survival', comprising three main themes, namely, 'the gateway', 'blowing into the fire' and 'getting stuck in the mud'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing knowledge about the adverse effects of opium on the cardiovascular system would reinforce prevention and rehabilitation measures. Involving patients' family-members in addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs and referring patients to specialized rehabilitation centres could help patients quit opium. Healthcare providers (HCPs) should notice to the effects of opium consumption among CAD patients; nursing care must be holistic in nature. Although opium is stigmatised in Iran, HCPs must treat addicted CAD patients similar to other patients. Nursing students' must be aware of the negative effects of illegal drugs on CAD patients and the misconceptions regarding the positive effects thereof. Any misconceptions must be probed and clarified. Rehabilitation centres must be supervised by cardiologists and HCPs.
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor, Center for Nursing Care Research, Faculty member of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. farahani.ma@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mansoureh A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farahani
authors.affiliation: MSc, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor in Nursing, Center for Nursing Care Research, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran. ghafarifateme@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor, Center for Nursing Care Research, Faculty member of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. nseyedfatemi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Naiemeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyed Fatemi
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Drug abuse; Iran; Opium consumption; Qualitative research