WALKING TO CHRONICITY: REPRESENTATIONS OF ILLNESS IN ADULTS WITH ANGINA PECTORIS

Abstract

Qualitative research that focus on the trajectory of patients that face an episode of intense angina pectoris and the way from a cardiac disease to the chronicity. The study’s objectives were to describe the representations of angina pectoris and to identify changes in life style, occurred after this emergency situation. It happened in the Emergency Room of a Curitiba School Hospital, responsible for taking care of medical and traumatic emergencies. The study was taken with twenty three adult people that looked for this emergency service complaining of angina pectoris and that stood under observation, in the unit during morning periods. The instrument of data collecting had two stages: the first had the objective of knowing the meaning of the angina pectoris to the patient and biosocial pointers; and the second stage related to repercussions of the angina pectoris episode in people’s life style and was taken at these people’s home at Curitiba. The resultant categories from people’s speeches were: loss of tranquility, loss of limits and facing the treatment. The study disclosed the difficulties faced by the patient that starts a chronic illness process, evidencing the lack of knowledge related to its disease and to its responsibility in the disease control.

Keywords

• Chronic disease
• Adults
• Health
• Nursing care