[Phenomenology of stress in myocardial infarction patients and their spouses: nursing perspective].

The goal of this descriptive research was to identify, using the phenomenological method, the sources of stress as they are preceived by men who have suffered a myocardial infarction, and also as perceived by their spouse. Subjects were asked to identify their perceptions of stress arising from either having suffered a myocardial infarction or having shared the life of this person as a spouse, the nursing care received and the feelings of other concerned family members. Watson's "caring" theory was explored as a useful model to address the perceived stress. Analysis of the evidence confirmed that myocardial infarction itself provoked several sources of stress for the sick person and the spouse. Lack of instruction and support are two of the elements of stress often mentioned in the subjects' comments. These findings provide a focus for nurses to use the "caring" theory of Watson to minimize the sources of stress perceived by both groups of subjects.