Changes in family patterns six months after a myocardial infarction.

Descriptive data were gathered from 15 families on which changes in the family were reported as a result of a myocardial infarction in one family member. Persons surviving their first myocardial infarction and their families were interviewed individually and simultaneously by one of five trained interviewers in each subject's home 6 months after myocardial infarction. Data were analyzed by reduction, display, and comparison of responses. Categories of changes that emerged from the data were those in family and social activities, emotions and personal life-style habits.