SURVIVORS OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH: THE MEDICAL PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS RELATED TO SELF-REPORTS OF PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS (WORK RETURN, SEXUAL FUNCTIONING).
Contributors: University of California, San Francisco.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 296
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study examined the relationship of selected medical and psychosocial factors to self-reports of physical health, mental health and perceived health status in 61 survivors of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Additional descriptive data on the survivors' rate of work return, sexual functioning and mental status changes were also generated.

Data for this cross-sectional correlational study were gathered through chart reviews, patient interviews and structured questionnaires. The standardized instruments employed included the McCorkle Symptom Distress Scale, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, and the Rand Corporation's Physical Functioning Index, Mental Health Index and General Health Index. Descriptive, correlational, discriminant and multiple regression statistics were used to analyze the data.

Compared to a national sample, SCD survivors reported significantly poorer physical functioning (p < 0.001), less favorable health perception (p < 0.001) but equally favorable mental health status. However, a subgroup of younger survivors (< 50 years) reported significant psychological distress (p < 0.001). Illness severity, symptom distress and age significantly discriminated between survivor reports of physical health (p < 0.0001). Although age, symptom distress and cognitive appraisal of arrest/illness impact were significantly related to survivor reports of mental health (p < 0.001) and perceived health status (p < 0.01), hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated only symptom distress accounted for a significant portion of the variance in these measures (28% and 39%, respectively, p < 0.001).

Illness severity was the major factor affecting initial work return (31 of 41 subjects) and subsequent work status (62%) among SCD survivors over a mean follow-up of 21 (+OR-) 8 months. Seventy-eight percent of the survivors sexually active prior to cardiac arrest resumed coitus although 55% of these were less active, primarily because of symptoms. Twenty-five survivors (41%) reported changes in memory, concentration or intellectual functions since the occurrence of cardiac arrest, but less than 10% of these had not resumed independent social activities and/or shopping.

The occurrence of symptoms significantly predicts long term SCD survivor reports of physical health, mental health and preceived health status. Other factors influencing survivor reports on these measures are age, illness severity and cognitive appraisal arrest/illness impact. Social support as measured in this study was not significantly related to either mental health or perceived health status.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-03, Section: B, page: 0798.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, 1984.

School code: 0034.