Lifestyles: social representations construed by patients with myocardial infarction and family members

Objective The social representations of lifestyles construed by family members and patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Method Exploratory qualitative study supported by the theory of social representations, with 70 patients and 70 family members of two Portuguese hospitals, one on the coast and one inland from January to June 2015. Structural analysis was performed using two questionnaires relying on the technique called Free Association of Words. Results The evocations of patients and family members indicated weak convergence between the two groups in representing Lifestyle, yet showed the existence of knowledge that enhances a healthy lifestyle. Conclusions The categories Eat and Change were a consensus among the groups. For patients and family members, it was consensual that a poor diet is a harmful lifestyle for health. It was also clear that change is fundamental. Such an assumption makes room for the intervention of health professionals.