Being Uncertain: Rural-Living Cardiac Patients' Experience of Seeking Health Care

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Access

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health concern.
• Secondary prevention is vital for managing CVD and preventing heart failure.
• Rural populations often experience limited access to healthcare resources and quality-of-life services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the healthcare and cardiac rehabilitation access process for rural patients post-myocardial infarction (MI).
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing secondary prevention adherence in rural settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing Straussian grounded theory.
• In-depth interviews conducted with 11 post-MI participants from rural areas.

Main Results:

• A linear process from hospital discharge to health maintenance was identified.
• Five key elements emerged: health information comfort, provider relationships, social support, ownership, and CR availability.
• Core category identified as 'being uncertain' due to perceived lack of information and support.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight significant uncertainty among rural cardiac patients.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing perceived information and support systems.
• Improving access to healthcare and cardiac rehabilitation is essential for rural CVD secondary prevention.