THE EMERGENCE OF THE PERSON-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION IN A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF VIGOR IN HEART-FAILURE

A descriptive study using between-methods triangulation was conducted to explore perceptions of vigor in heart failure and the role that pla nned exercise played in these perceptions. Fifty-four people with hear t failure were surveyed about perceived health, mental health, physica l functioning, and vigor. Average energy expenditure in planned exerci se, ventricular function, and exercise tolerance was also measured. A subgroup of 12 provided linguistic data about vigor. Triangulated anal ysis uncovered the importance of the person-environment interaction to vigor perceptions in heart failure and lent support to the inclusion of this phenomenon as a cornerstone of the nursing paradigm.