Care experiences of younger people and next of kin following myocardial infarction

Background/Aims
Coronary heart diseases, including myocardial infarction, remain a major health problem worldwide. Little is known about the cardiac care experiences post myocardial infarction of younger people and their next of kin. This study aimed to describe the cardiac care experiences of post-myocardial infarction younger people (<55 years old) and their next of kin.

Method
This study employed an exploratory inductive qualitative design involving individual interviews with younger people (n=17) and their next of kin (n=13).

Results
Three categories were identified and patients were deemed to be in need of: tailored information, recognition and a post-discharge rehabilitation plan

Conclusions
Findings demonstrated the importance of using the experiences of younger people and their next of kin as the starting point when planning care and cardiac rehabilitation. Health professionals must systematically and purposefully provide person-centred care, both in hospital and post-discharge settings. Next of kin must be regarded as an important resource in post-myocardial infarction care for younger people, as they tend to be engaged in providing their relatives with support, which is valuable for the recovery of young people post myocardial infarction. Further research is warranted to investigate what makes person-centred interventions directed towards post-myocardial infarction younger people and their next of kin effective.