Living with heart disease after angioplasty: A qualitative study of patients who have been successful or unsuccessful in multiple behavior change
published online 26 August 2009.
Objective
To document values, attitudes, and beliefs that influence behavior change among a diverse group of patients post-angioplasty.
Methods
Purposive and maximum-variation sampling were used to assemble a demographically diverse patient cohort (N=61) who had been successful or unsuccessful at post-angioplasty multibehavior change. Semistructured interviews and grounded theory methods were used to collect and analyze qualitative data.
Results
Themes showed the following: a) Patients reported surviving a life-threatening event and feared disease recurrence and death; b) the perception of a turning point and self-determination facilitated behavior change; c) social support and spiritual beliefs promoted coping with the uncertainty of living with heart disease; and d) unsuccessful behavior change was related to physical limitations, a sense that “nothing helps,” and the belief that angioplasty “cures” heart disease.
Conclusion
Lifestyle interventions should be culturally relevant and adapted to physical abilities. Fostering self-determination and social support may promote successful behavior change.
aCenter for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
bDepartment of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, New York, New York and Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York; New York
cProgram to Integrate Psychosocial and Health Services in Chronic Diseases and Disability, Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
dEducation Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
Corresponding author: Janey C. Peterson, EdD, MS, RN, Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Ave, Box 46, New York, NY 10065.
Supported by contract N01-HC-25196 from the National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
ABSTRACT