Self-rated health in women after their first myocardial infarction : A 12-month comparison between participation and nonparticipation in a cardiac rehabilitation programme

• Compared self-rated health among women who voluntarily did and did not participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) within 12 mo after their 1st myocardial infarction (MI). A nonrandomized evaluation study design including a pre- and posttest was implemented in 18 acute hospitals in the southwestern part of Sweden. 240 consecutively chosen women suffering their 1st MI at age 35-70 yrs completed 2 self-rated questionnaires at the onset of the MI and 12 mo later. The results showed that about 50% of the women took part in a CRP. Women who participated in a CRP reported more medical problems, such as anginal pain, and received more interventional cardiology 12 mo after the MI. Irrespective of participation in a CRP, the women succeeded with behavioral changes, such as giving up smoking, starting exercising, and becoming more diet conscious. The only benefits identified, related to CRP participation, were a higher back to work rate and normalized BP. These findings suggest that today's CRPs are not adapted to females in that they neither offer emotional support in the short term nor support a feeling of belonging in the long term and that the health care professionals are not aware of this.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

health

health behavior

human females

myocardial infarctions

rehabilitation

behavior change

Caring sciences

Vårdvetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)