Women's experiences during myocardial infarction: systematic review and meta‐ethnography

Aims and objectives The aim of this review is to identify, analyse and synthesise existing knowledge concerning female experiences during myocardial infarction. Background There is a lack of knowledge about women's experiences during myocardial infarction, and a meta‐synthesis is needed to synthesise existing evidence. Design A systematic review and meta‐ethnography. Method A systematic review was undertaken in September 2013. Four databases were searched. Grey literature and reference lists were screened for relevant studies. Four hundred and eighty‐one papers were identified and 14 were included. The method of Noblit and Hare was used in the process of conducting this review and meta‐ethnography. Results Three themes were identified. 1. ‘Feeling the changes in my body’, 2. ‘Understanding the changes in my body’ and 3. ‘Acting on the changes in my body’. The majority of women did not experience their body changes as being severe and threatening. Therefore, the women chose to wait or self‐medicate before consulting others. The women who initially experienced the symptoms related to myocardial infarction as being severe and threatening, chose to consult others earlier than the majority of women. Conclusion Women's experiences and interpretation of body symptoms during myocardial infarction vary. Most commonly women do not initially recognise their body symptoms as being severe and life threatening. The theory of Merleau‐Ponty's ‘current and habituated body’ is relevant for explaining women's ways of understanding and acting on their body changes during myocardial infarction. Relevance for clinical practice This review is relevant in a preventive and rehabilitating perspective for professionals working in health care. It helps professionals to understand women's experiences during myocardial infarction, optimises their ability to suspect myocardial infarction and teach women to react on these body changes.