Medical & Clinical Reviews

Perception and Feedback on Virgin Coconut Oil Consumption Among Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: A Qualitative Study

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading causes of death in Malaysia and worldwide. Being diagnosed with ACS causes poor quality of life, with patients always reporting of recurrent attacks and re-hospitalization. In addition, the current treatment which includes the prescription of statin to lower lipid levels is found to have several side effects on ACS patients. Those problems had guided the researcher to introduce a natural product, that is virgin coconut oil (VCO) as supplementary management of ACS. The aim of the study is to explore the participants’ perception and feedback on 90 days of VCO consumption.

Methods: Eighteen patients with ACS (5 women and 13 men) from 25 to 65 years of age and with a disease duration ranging from 3 to 22 years were interviewed through a face-to-face in-depth interview following a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed using the Atlas.ti, content analysis method, and manual transcription.

Results: VCO appeared in two themes, physiological and psychological effects. There were six subthemes of feedback covering decrease of appetite, easy to feel full/satiety, perceived reduction in body weight, feeling energetic, feeling active, and feeling healthy.

Conclusions: VCO consumption performed differently in patients with ACS and was perceived differently by them. Majority of the participants agreed that VCO has positive effects on the physiologically and psychological. The results from this study may provide guidance for clinicians on important issues that need to be addressed such as a new health promotion strategy that involves natural products in reducing ACS incidence.

Author(s):

Sharifah Shafinaz Sh 
Abdullah*, Chong Mei 
Chan and Khatijah Lim Abdullah

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