Effects of Death Anxiety Experienced by Individuals with Myocardial Infarction: A Phenomenological Approach.

Aim: This study sought to investigate in depth the experiences of individuals who had a myocardial infarction (MI), focusing on death anxiety and life changes. Design: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Methods: Criterion-based purposive sampling was used. Data were collected between June and July 2023 through semi-structured interviews. Seven participants were interviewed, and six were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Four main categories emerged: (1) experiences of patients, (2) changes in daily life, (3) thoughts about death, and (4) recommendations. Participants reported intense fear of death, lifestyle changes, and increased awareness of mortality. Conclusions: Death anxiety is a prominent psychological response after MI that significantly affects patients' perceptions and behaviors. Psychosocial interventions are recommended to help patients cope with these experiences.