Cardiac therapy for men with coronary artery disease. The lived experience.

A phenomenological inquiry was conducted to uncover the lived experience of cardiac therapy for men with coronary artery disease in Northwest Ohio. Five men age 60 to 70 years were purposively selected to participate. Data obtained from individual audiotaped interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Eight major themes emerged: (a) feelings of fear and disbelief, (b) being aware of mortality, (c) losing control of self, (d) halting usual activities and future plans, (e) heightening awareness of spirituality and belief in a higher power, (f) resigning to accept external forces and required changes, (g) increasing sense of well-being, and (h) receiving a second chance and moving forward. This study makes valuable contributions to nursing by increasing awareness of actual lived experiences of cardiac therapy for men, offering direction for cardiac therapy programs to assist men with holistic lifestyle modifications that enable them to increase wellness, and serving as an impetus for further research.