Strategies for recreating normal life: Iranian coronary heart disease patients' perspectives on coping strategies

Aims and objectives To identify coping strategies used by Iranian patients with coronary heart disease. Background One of the most important nursing interventions is facilitating adjustment for patients. A deeper understanding of patients' coping strategies for controlling illness and its consequences is needed. Design A qualitative design. Methods Participants were hospitalised patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease, based on documented angiographic results. A qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews was conducted, and purposive sampling was performed. The qualitative content analysis determined categories and subcategories for describing and understanding coping strategies. Results The term ‘coping strategies’ refers to the strategies used by participants living with coronary heart disease as they attempt to understand and control their chronic condition and return to a social and physical state as similar to their predisease condition as possible. During the data analysis, six strategies emerged: searching for meaning and information; trying to achieve comfort and control; resting more, doing less and slowing down; motivating, prioritising and caring for self; turning to religion and spirituality; and expectations and receiving assistance and support. Conclusions This qualitative study describes the coping strategies of Iranian patients with coronary heart disease and the commonalities with strategies for others dealing with chronic illnesses in Iran. The patients were found to use a variety of coping strategies to deal with their illness and its impacts on their lives. Relevance to clinical practice This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge about optimal nursing care strategies for patients with coronary heart disease. Through increasing awareness of coping strategies, nurses can help their patients employ the most effective tools and reinforce constructive successful coping styles for patients who are dealing with coronary heart disease.