Myocardial infarction: a turning point in meaning in life over time.

Finding meaning in illness appears to give individuals purpose in life, which may motivate them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Research to date has mainly used cross-sectional designs in the acute phase of recovery. This article describes a longitudinal exploratory study which explored patients' search for meaning in life across the first 5 years following myocardial infarction (MI). Interviews were conducted between 2000 and 2007 on patients with first MI (n=70; mean=61.9 years; SD=12.1). The qualitative data underwent thematic analysis guided by the analysis framework of Burnard (1991). Finding meaning appeared to increase patients' awareness of their current holistic state of life, and to provide impetus for making lifestyle changes. In the immediate aftermath of MI, patients restructured and re-evaluated their attitudes towards self, life, religious beliefs and others. However, from the third year onwards, as time passed patients lapsed in their behaviour, tending to become non-compliant with treatment and less aware or concerned about the risk of another heart attack. Further education on the spiritual dimension in care may guide nurses and health professionals in order to promote patients' rehabilitation process and persevere with a long-term healthy lifestyle. Further longitudinal comparative research with mixed method approach on various groups of patients is recommended to support these findings.