title: 'I was in control of it from the start': A qualitative study of men's experiences of positive adjustment following a heart attack.
abstract: A qualitative design was used to explore the experience of positive adjustment following a heart attack. Ten men attending a cardiac rehabilitation programme completed in-depth semi-structured interviews. An overarching theme: 'I was in control of it from the start' emerged with six subthemes, relating to intrapersonal and interpersonal factors and processes. The subthemes reflected the importance of identifying controllable versus non-controllable factors and employing adaptive coping strategies.
authors.affiliation: 1 Royal Free Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 1 Royal Free Hospital, UK.|2 Charing Cross Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Banwell
authors.affiliation: 1 Royal Free Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Roby
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rakhit
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008571:Men; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: acute illness; coping; myocardial infarction; perceived control; qualitative methods