Couples’ thoughts about and expectations of their future life after the patient’s hospital discharge following acute myocardial infarction

Aim. To describe and interpret couples’ thoughts and expectations about their future life after the patient’s discharge following acute myocardial infarction. Background. An acute myocardial infarction is a challenge for both the patient and his/her partner, as it can disrupt family functioning and dynamics. Earlier research has generally focused on either the patient or the partner, and few studies have explored the experiences of the couple. Design. Qualitative descriptive and interpretative. Methods. Fifteen couples took part in individual interviews, 4–8 weeks after discharge. Data were analysed in two phases using qualitative content analysis. Results. The first phase of the analysis revealed two categories: ‘an active approach to the future’ and ‘a wait‐and‐see approach to the future’, both of which described the participants’ thoughts about the future. In the second phase, the couples’ stories were interpreted and grouped into four positions: ‘the life companions’, ‘the tightrope walkers’, ‘the pathfinders’ and ‘the observers’, which illustrated their visions of the future. Conclusions. Our results reveal differences in the couples’ thoughts about and expectations of their future life, most of them managed the situation by having a positive attitude to life and their future. The couples discovered their resources and compensated for or balanced each other in the early recovery period. Relevance to clinical practice. The results indicate the importance of giving both partners the opportunity to express their views of the situation, as this increases nurses’ understanding of the impact of the illness on their life and relationship. However, the results also highlight the significance of seeing the couple and showing them consideration both as individuals and as a unit.