The carries’ perceptions of cardiac insufficience front their illness chronic process

Abstract

This is a qualitative study realized in a specialized private hospital in cardiology in Curitiba’s city. The period was of August to October of 2006. Its objective was to describe carries’ perceptions of cardiac insufficience front their illness chronic process. The studied population was composed for 10 diagnosised carriers of this disease having, at the very least, one year. We used questionnaire and taped interview for data collect. After the authorization of the Ethics Intitutional’s Committee, they had been transcribed and analyzed according to technique of content analysis. Three great subjects had been raised, that are: perceiving itself sick cardiopath, the feelings in relation to the illness and the changes of life. It was observed that, in the majority of the interviewed ones, the chronic condition of health alone is perceived when cardiovascular complications and symptoms appear. The feelings that involve the discovery of the diagnosis are the concerns related to the internments, procedures, to the changes in the life habits and, mainly, to the fear of the death. The changes in the daily one of these carriers are evident, showed in the stories through fatigue, lack of air and limitations in the work. Also they relate a bigger concern about themselves, valuing more the self care and the life.