Positive effects of illness reported by myocardial infarction and breast cancer patients

This study investigated the positive effects or changes that patients ident ified in their lives following a myocardial infarction (MI) or breast cance r. One hundred and forty-three patients were assessed in hospital following a first-time MI and 52 breast cancer patients were assessed on referral fo r radiotherapy. Approximately 3 months later both groups were asked if any positive changes had taken place in their lives following their illness. Pa tients' written responses to a single open-ended question were read indepen dently by three judges who identified seven major positive themes. Approxim ately 60% of each patient group reported positive changes from their illnes s and the reporting of such changes was unrelated to illness severity. The most common theme reported by MI patients was healthy lifestyle change (68% ), whereas, for breast cancer patients, it was improved close relationships with others (33%). These results are discussed in terms of the way patient s make sense of and adapt to chronic illness. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc .