Lives of Rural Women After Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

This study examines the influences of rurality on the lives of women postmyocardial infarction (MI). Using a critical ethnographic approach, the researchers analyze in-depth interviews with 12 women from southwestern Ontario, Canada, for the ways in which their experiences were related to social, political, and cultural forces associated with rurality. Data analysis revealed 4 themes: reticence, characterized by a tendency to minimize worry and accept one's life post-MI; referral games, or the challenges associated with accessing tertiary care; resourcefulness in managing one's recovery; and relationships, with rural health professionals and institutions being highly valued. The findings have relevance for nurses in both rural and urban settings who care for women postMI and form a basis for supporting and building culturally specific post-MI care.