This study explored the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life, depression, and anxiety in Asian patients in Singapore. Out of the 194 patients who were recruited into the study, 139 patients (71.6%) completed both the pre- and post-cardiac rehabilitation questionnaires. Their ages ranged from 28 to 80 (M = 56.66, SD = 8.88), and 103 patients (74.1%) were males and 21 patients (15.1%) were females. As hypothesized, there was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-cardiac rehabilitation scores on the combined dependent variables, F (4, 135) = 34.84, p < 0.001; Wilks’ Lambda = 0.49; partial eta squared = 0.51. An inspection of the mean scores indicated that patients reported higher levels of physical and mental quality of life and lower levels of depression post-cardiac rehabilitation. The findings were discussed in regards to implications in cardiac rehabilitation in Singapore.
The global prevalence of mental health conditions and the associated wide treatment gaps have led to increased demand for quality mental healthcare services. In Singapore, despite a shift towards a joint provision of mental healthcare in hospitals and the community, experiences of mental healthcare teams in such hospital‐community partnerships have remained unclear. Through a qualitative descriptive approach, this study explored community mental health workers’ experiences and perceptions of working with partners from tertiary hospitals and other community organisations. Eighteen participants were individually interviewed with a semi‐structured question guide through video conferencing. This study was guided by the 32‐item checklist from the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Data were subjected to Braun and Clark’s six‐step thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: (i) the need for supportive partners, due to institutional and legal challenges faced in the participants’ liaison with hospital partners and other community organisations; (ii) the need for a supportive organisation, whose presence and importance were revealed by the interviews; and (iii) the necessity of advanced training, identified by the participants as a contributor to their professional growth. The findings highlighted the importance of inter‐sectoral communication and positive effects of a robust organisational support system. Accordingly, hospitals and community mental healthcare organisations should consider strengthening networking and boosting case discussions through regular inter‐sectoral meetings that would prioritise the clients’ continuity of care. Furthermore, opportunities for advanced trainings should be created for community‐based mental healthcare workers.
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