The living experience of surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and spiritual meaning making.
Nursing open August 1, 2023 Maria Aristidou, Maria Karanikola, Elizabeth Kusi-Appiah et al. 9 citations
Surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is perceived as a 'divine gift' that leads to a more conscious and meaningful life. Eight Greek-speaking survivors described their experiences through in-depth interviews, revealing five themes: the unexpected attack, experiencing a different world (transformation of body, time, emotion, and sensation), restoration of the re-embodied self, life transformation, and personal transformation. Despite physical and psychosocial challenges, participants reported a newly acquired deep appreciation for life and others. Construction of meaning and heightened spirituality appear central to reconstructing life after cardiac arrest. The themes align with transcultural components of near-death experiences.