Cardiac rehabilitation for women: one size does not fit all

To investigate women's perceptions of the contribution of cardiac rehabilitation to their recovery from a myocardial infarction.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs have been based on research with almost exclusively male participants. It was unclear if cardiac rehabilitation programs meet the needs of women.

Ten women who had experienced one or more myocardial infarctions were interviewed. Data from these interviews were analysed using Glaserian grounded theory.

The core category that emerged from the data was 'regaining everydayness'. Participants worked to regain their 'everydayness' through a basic social process of 'reframing'. Reframing involved coming to terms with what they had experienced and fitting it into their lives. Other categories related to symptom recognition and recovery.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs contributed to overall recovery from a myocardial infarction in different ways for each participant. Although programs provided information for participants, they failed to provide the type of support needed to effectively aid reframing and recovery. Programs did not meet the needs of all participants and it was apparent that one size does not fit all.