Cardiac rehabilitation: structure, effectiveness and the future

Abstract

Despite advances in the investigation and treatment of angina and myocardial infarction, and increased knowledge of the factors associated with the development and progression of ischaemic heart disease, it remains the leading cause of death and morbidity in the majority of industrialized countries. Cardiac rehabilitation provides a means of modifying lifestyle and other risk factors in patients presenting with established, symptomatic coronary artery disease, thereby reducing the risk of further cardiac events. It has also been proven to be cost-efficient.

‘I’m still waiting...': barriers to accessing cardiac rehabilitation services

“…The nurse's contribution to cardiac rehabilitation has been identified as crucial (Noy 1998). Assessment, information giving, health promotion and psychosocial support are all components of cardiac rehabilitation delivered by ward, community or specialist nurses.…”

“…Assessment, information giving, health promotion and psychosocial support are all components of cardiac rehabilitation delivered by ward, community or specialist nurses. The specialist nurse often emerge as the co‐ordinator of cardiac rehabilitation programmes (Noy 1998). There is concern, however, regarding the variation and a lack of clarity in the nature of such nursing posts, ranging as they do from volunteer positions to full time and well trained specialists (Newens et al .…”

Information needs before hospital discharge of myocardial infarction patients: a comparative, descriptive study

“…The benefits to patients are achieved through the exercise, education and psychological support which are present in CR (Tod et al 2002). This is surely an incentive for nurses to introduce suitable candidates to a programme of rehabilitation at the earliest opportunity, an approach advocated by the World Health Organization (Noy 1998) and endorsed by other commentators (Davison 2002). This recommendation may appear well founded, as patients feel vulnerable when leaving hospital, and may therefore be especially receptive to information at that time (Sage 2000).…”

Impact of Satisfaction, Nurse–Patient Interactions and Perceived Benefits on Health Behaviors Following a Cardiac Event

“…There is ample evidence in the literature about what biopsychosocial 1 1 Cognitive-behavioral therapies, relaxation, meditation, exercise, increasing social support and networks. and organizational 2 2 Timing, location, accessibility, affordability and ease of learning the exercises. factors constitute a successful cardiac rehabilitation program [1,2,4–8]. Research also identified gender differences both in cardiac rehabilitation preferences and in the use of such services [7,9–15].…”