Living with Angina Pectoris–A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Angina pectoris is a common medical condition with a high mortality and morbidity rate and normally requires medical therapy to control symptoms. The impact of angina and treatment strategies are gauged almost solely on clinical measurements. This approach does not provide insight into the effects of the disease from the patients' perspectives. Understanding these effects enables a patient centred approach to care, which may facilitate adherence to treatment strategies. Previous studies examining heart disease from the patients' perspective have tended to focus on myocardial infarction or coronary surgery and not, as this study does, on angina per se. Unstructured interviews of seven patients with clinically stable angina pectoris were carried out and analysed using a phenomenological approach. Seven themes were identified: limitation and adjustment; resignation; indignation; caution; reluctant compliance; surprise; and the unknown. Patients made adjustments to their lifestyles because of the limitations imposed on them by angina. These changes were accepted reluctantly, initially with annoyance, but ultimately with resignation. They were cautious in everyday activities to avoid something ‘worse’ happening. On the whole, they were surprised that they had developed the disease despite little understanding of risk factors. They had not considered the long-term effects of the disease. Angina patients need to have access to information sources to understand the disease and to make adjustments to their lives. An opportunity to discuss the disease with a specialist health care professional is essential. The study showed that phenomenology has a contribution to make in areas such as cardiology where the research agenda is predominantly positivistic.

Assessing HRQL among Chinese patients with coronary heart disease: Angina, myocardial infarction and heart failure

“…Although the MIDAS was originally developed for use in patients with MI, the items of its seven subscales appear to adequately cover the impact of angina and heart failure on an individual's life situation [7][8][9]. This suggests that the MIDAS may be useful as a common HRQL measure for patients with different diagnosis of CHD.…”

Chronic stable angina: Addressing the needs of patients through risk reduction, education and support

“…They expressed the need to have opportunities to discuss their disease with a specialist health care provider and felt that this was essential to their ability to manage their health. 18 Thus, antianginal medical therapies remain important despite optimal revascularization.…”

Randomized controlled trial of a lay‐facilitated angina management programme

“…Although it can be precipitated by a number of conditions, it is accepted that stable angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD). It is a chronic condition that affects over 2 million people in the UK (Scarborough et al 2010), over six million in the USA (Roger et al 2010), and has profound effects on functioning and quality of life (Lyons et al 1994, Brorsson et al 2002, MacDermott 2002, Spertus et al 2002). Current guidelines for the treatment of stable CHD (including angina) emphasize the importance of encouraging people with heart disease to undertake secondary prevention programmes and to improve self management of their condition (Balady et al 2007, NICE 2011).…”