Exploring the Perceptions and Health Behaviours of Patients Following an Elective Ad-hoc Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Qualitative Study.

RESULTS: Participants expressed uncertainty about their future health and feared disease recurrence, which appeared to provide motivation for adopting a healthier lifestyle. Although two participants voiced the belief that the elective PCI cured their disease, this perception did not appear to influence their engagement in risk reduction behaviours. However, systemfactors such as a lack of information, direction, and/or support from health care providers appeared to play a limiting role in their ability to move forward with lifestyle change.

BACKGROUND: Elective ad-hoc percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are increasingly used to manage the symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, we have limited understanding of the patients' experiences and health behaviours post-procedure.

PURPOSE: Explore the factors that influence the perceptions and health behaviours of patients after elective ad-hoc PCI.

METHODS: This interpretive descriptive study used purposive sampling to recruit participants (N = 10) aged 44 to 65 years following an elective ad-hoc PCI from a cardiac catheterization laboratory at a tertiary centre in Winnipeg, MB. Participants were interviewed 11 to 35 days following their procedure. Recruitment continued until no new substantive themes emerged. The Health Belief Model provided the frameworkfor developing, exploring, interpreting, and analyzing the data.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses have a key role in the education of patients and in providingpatient-centred care that supports lifestyle change. Nurses need to develop strategies that decrease barriers to engaging in risk reduction behaviours following elective ad-hoc PCI if patients are to experience improved health and longevity.