EFFECTS OF TIME ON LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS FOLLOWING A CARDIAC EVENT AS INFLUENCED BY AN OUTPATIENT CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
Contributors: Rush University, College Of Nursing.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 330
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This exploratory study examined 108 subjects who attended or did not attend an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program following their first cardiac event. Purposes of the study were to investigate cardiac risk factor reduction, health promotion, and psychosocial adjustment changes within groups over four, 6 week time periods.

Blending paradigms from the Health Belief and Health Promotion Models, patients' lifestyle adjustments were described. Descriptive statistics analyzed selected demographic and medical data. Several hypotheses were tested using a one-between (Groups) and one-within (Time) analysis of variance design using the Risk Factor Identification index, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report as dependent measures.

The typical subject was a 61-year-old Caucasian married male with 12.9 years of education. Before hospitalization 53 subjects were unaware of a heart condition; 60 subjects experienced myocardial infarction (MI); 29 had coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and 19 had percutaneous angioplasty (PTCA). Before dismissal, 23 CABG's and 18 PTCA's were preformed, and 71 subjects anticipated attending an outpatient rehabilitation program. Health problems included hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesteremia, arthritis, and obesity.

Following dismissal, some subjects experienced angina, dyspnea, dizziness, arrhythmias, incisional soreness, and leg swelling. Thirty-seven subjects had additional cardiac procedures. Overall, 87 attended a rehabilitation program, 46 completed 36 sessions. The remaining 41 attended 18 sessions.

Four subjects retired and 10 continued smoking. Many subjects anticipated difficulty changing and slowing down. Difficult changes included diet, not driving, exercising, stress reduction, dependence on others, and activity restrictions. Easier changes included taking medications, diet, exercising, decreasing commitments, and attending cardiac rehabilitation. Most subjects reported their cardiac event had affected everyone, the changes were for the better, yet difficult, they were thankful, positive, and proud, and wanted to continue the lifestyle changes.

No differences were found between groups for the three dependent variables. However, significant reductions in cardiac risk factors and increases in health promoting behaviors occurred over time for all groups. Interestingly, adjustment problems had not changed. Understanding the experiences following a cardiac event is essential not only for planning rehabilitative programs, but for formulating realistic expectations, goals, and effective interventions.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-09, Section: B, page: 4670.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--RUSH UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF NURSING, 1991.

School code: 0591.