15 A qualitative study investigating the lived experiences of people with SCAD

<h3>Background</h3> There is a paucity of evidence describing the experiences of people with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and the impact of this condition on their mental wellbeing, physical health, and quality of life. <h3>Aim</h3> To Explore the lived experiences of people with SCAD following their diagnosis, management and recovery. <h3>Methods</h3> Twenty-five participants (24 female and 1 male) consented to take part in a semi-structured online interview. Transcripts were analysed following the thematic framework of Braun and Clarke, using NVivo version 12. This study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee at Edge Hill University (ETH2223-0225). <h3>Results</h3> There were five themes identified in this study (figure 1): 1) Mental wellbeing: some participants reported being shocked with their diagnosis, experiencing anxiety and being afraid of recurrence. 2) Physical activity: Most participants were physically active pre-SCAD and have had to modify or stop their exercise routines. 3) Cardiovascular rehabilitation: Most participants felt ready to start cardiovascular rehabilitation, even though they felt concerned about exercising. 4) Healthcare professionals: Participants reported a lack of awareness about SCAD from healthcare professionals. 5) Information: Participants expressed frustration due to the lack of information about SCAD and not knowing how to manage their condition. <h3>Conclusion</h3> People with SCAD experience mental and physical deterioration and would benefit from longer-term support. Even though there is an increase in SCAD research and improvements in diagnosis, there seems to be a significant lack of awareness of this condition among healthcare professionals. Training and better provision of advice and guidance for patients is essential.