Understanding midlife women's and men's process of early risk mitigation following an acute coronary syndrome event: a grounded theory study

Abstract

Understanding the process of risk mitigation is an essential component in cardiac care delivery pathways. However, our understanding about the process of risk mitigation remains fragmented. This information gap widens when challenged to identify gender based differences in the process of risk mitigation, paiiicularly during the acute to community transition period among survivors of an acute coronary syndrome event. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by explicating the stages, strategies and overall process of risk mitigation for mid-life men and women during the early recovery period following an ACS event. Using grounded theory, midlife women and men were interviewed up to 3 times during the first few months following a first ACS event. Critical phases in gender based risk mitigation processes were identified and explained. The results of this study will inform cardiac care delivery models for improved risk mitigation support among mid-life men and women.