congenital heart disease: Background and Foreground Considerations
A major finding of this study was the teens' striking capacity to situate their diagnosis of congenital heart disease into the foreground in some situations and in the background in other situations. congenital heart disease became a card that they could play when it suited their needs. For example the teens spoke of their involvement in gym class where congenital heart disease became a foreground issue when they did not want to participate. Conversely they talked about being “normal” teenagers with normal everyday concerns. In those accounts congenital heart disease was situated in the background. Teasing out the theme of foreground/background by considering how the teen related to him or herself individually to family and friends and to health care professionals furthered the data interpretation.