期刊名称：International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
电子版ISSN：1748-2631
出版年度：2013
卷号：8
DOI：10.3402/qhw.v8i0.20836
语种：English
出版社：Taylor & Francis
摘要：Fatigue has been found to be the most frequent and bothersome symptom after myocardial infarction (MI), influencing health-related quality of life negatively. Moreover, fatigue after MI has been described as incomprehensible due to its unpredictable occurrence and lack of relationship to physical effort. The aim of this study is therefore to explore persons’ experiences of consequences of fatigue and their strategies for dealing with it 2 months after MI. In total, 18 informants, aged 4275 years, participated in the study. Interviews were conducted and analysed using constructivist grounded theory methodology. Grounded in the data, the main consequence of fatigue, as illustrated in the core category, was: I’ve lost the person I used to be. It indicates a sense of reduced ability to manage daily life due to experiences of fatigue. The core category was developed from the four categories: involuntary thoughts, certainties replaced with question marks, driving with the handbrake on and just being is enough. Furthermore, attempts to relieve fatigue were limited. These findings indicate that patients with symptoms of fatigue should be supported in developing relief strategies, for example, rest and sleep hygiene as well as physical activity. In conclusion, the results show that fatigue can be understood in light of the concepts ‘‘comprehensibility’’ and ‘‘manageability.’’ They also indicate that, working from a person-centered perspective, health-care professionals can support patients experiencing post-MI fatigue by giving them opportunities to straighten out the question marks and by inviting them to discuss involuntary thoughts and feelings of being restricted in their daily life functioning.Key words: Fatigue, grounded theory, myocardial infarction, symptom experience, person-centered care, sense of coherence(Published: 14 June 2013)Citation: Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being 2013, 8: 20836 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v8i0.20836
关键词：Nursing;Caring Science;fatigue, grounded theory, myocardial infarction, symptom experience, person-centered care, sense of coherence
