Communicating with people who have experienced heart attack.

Presentations of acute myocardial infarction (MI) can be divided into diagnostic subcategories that require different treatments. This article reports the results of a study that explored and compared patients' perceptions of their illness and motivation for behavioural change after different treatments for MI. Results suggest that patients who have had non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI) and whose initial diagnosis is uncertain take their condition less seriously than those who have had STEMI and invasive or 'urgent' treatments.

'I am still a bit unsure how much of a heart attack it really was!' Patients presenting with non ST elevation myocardial infarction lack understanding about their illness and have less motivation for secondary prevention.

Background: There are considerable differences in the type of treatments offered to patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), in terms of the speed and urgency with which they are admitted, treated and discharged from hospital. The impact of these different treatment experiences on patients' illness perception and motivation for behavioural changes is unknown.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and compare patients' illness perception and motivation for behavioural change following myocardial infarction (MI) treated by different methods.