Coping with ischaemic heart disease : views and experiences of key participants, their partners and medical practitioners.
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Ischaemic heart disease (IHD), which is a Chronic Disease of Lifestyle, has been
rated as one of the key illnesses that have progressively materialised as a threat
across the wide demographic spectrum of South Africa’s population. Internationally,
literature is relatively scarce on the psychosocial consequences of the disease for
the ill person, but limited information does exist on these consequences as they
affect South African individuals and their families. This study sought firstly to
understand the experience of persons with IHD, their partners and medical
practitioners and secondly how they coped with the illness. Participants were
selected with the assistance of cardiologists at a private hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.
Theoretical sampling determined the number of persons who participated in the
study. Data was collected using in-depth interviews in accordance with the qualitative
descriptive design and narrative inquiry that underpinned the research. Participants
(13) were determined once data-saturation was reached. The data revealed that
spousal support and religion/spirituality played important roles in helping people
manage the illness. Genetics and lifestyle choices contributed to participants’ IHD.
Not recognising their symptoms, owing to misinformation by the medical fraternity,
contributed to participants not realising they were having a heart attack.
Religious/spiritual coping mechanisms were among those mentioned by participants,
and depression (not clinically assessed), anxiety and sadness were noted among the
consequences for them. Two of the cardiologists did not acknowledge depression;
nevertheless research studies have linked depression with major cardiac attacks and
to surgery following cardiac problems. The data points to the lack of communication
between participants and their health practitioners and the belief held by participants
that the medical personnel were not particularly interested in their psychosocial
wellbeing. This seems to be borne out by the limited data obtained from health
practitioners. Social workers can play important roles in the health team by ensuring
that the psychosocial needs of persons experiencing IHD and their families are
attended to. Social workers can publish in health journals to make the medical
fraternity aware of the contribution that social workers skills can make to persons who are ill.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.
Keywords
Ischemia--South Africa., Coronary heart disease--South Africa., Heart--Diseases--Patients--South Africa., Theses--Social work.