The emotional burden of living with ischaemic heart disease: an artistic approach

Abstract

Background/Aims A diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease may cause the individual to enter a state of emotional uncertainty. The authors aimed to provide an arts-based account of the emotional burden experienced by people with ischaemic heart disease. Methods A secondary qualitative analysis of 35 interview with individuals with ischaemic heart disease was conducted. The results from the interview transcripts were analysed and depicted using an arts-based approach, in the form of poetry, musical lyrics and visual art. Results Participants described an overwhelming sense of loss following a diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease, including feeling a loss of control in their lives, loss of self, loss of agency in managing the illness and a loss of hope for the future. The emotional burden that patients carried was likened to going through a grieving process. Three poems, one song and two visual art pieces were created by the authors to depict the emotional burden experienced by the participants. Conclusions Supportive interventions that apply arts-based approaches to practice could be beneficial to target the psychological needs and emotional burden of patients following diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease.