ABSTRACT
Objective:
to know the received or assisted social support by the family towards the necessity of care after acute myocardial infarction.
Method:
qualitative and exploratory research. Data collection was carried out through observation and interviews with six families, from February to May, 2012. Data were also analyzed based on the thematic analysis.
Results:
three categories emerged: Immediate social support; Mediate social support; Late social support.
Conclusion:
social support follows the infarction trajectory, which attains the family members and favors the support according to the needs of care in each lived moments by the patient.
Key words:
Family; Family Health; Nursing; Myocardial Infarction; Social Support