PloS one
Recovery experiences and perceptions of quality of life after percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: An interpretive descriptive qualitative study
By Haji FF, Buluba SE and Ndile ML.
Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality globally, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the standard treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a life-threatening acute coronary syndrome requiring urgent revascularization. Despite increasing access to this intervention in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence on patients' lived experiences of recovery remains limited. This study explored patients' experiences of recovery and quality of life following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Tanzania.
Methods
An interpretive descriptive qualitative design was employed. Fourteen patients who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction were purposively sampled at a national referral cardiac centre and interviewed within three months after PCI. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.