PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to discover the recovery process of those having had myocardial infarction. METHODS 15 participants with myocardial infarction were recruited by theoretical sampling methods. The data were retrieved through in depth interview, participant observation, and medical records of the patients. Collected data were analyzed through grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin(1998). RESULTS 63 concepts, 27 subcategories, and 11 categories were deduced from the open coding process. The recovery process of myocardial infarction showed to be a process of 'Controling healthy track', and chronological recovery process was a four-step process of recognizing disruption of healthy track, making efforts for controlling the disrupted healthy track, reconstructing the new healthy track, and adapting to the new healthy track phase. 'Controling healthy track' had three types of self-initiation, contention of reality, and fateful acceptance. CONCLUSION The results provided basic information for nursing intervention strategies depending on 'Controling healthy track' process by each phase and different types.
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