Engaging patients in managing their cardiovascular health

Abstract

Psychological factors play a major part in the impact, course, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Patients' cognitions and emotions feed into their responses to their illness and its treatments and can, for example, affect the likelihood of attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programmes. It is important to view the rehabilitation process from the perspective of the patient and to examine and assess patients' beliefs. Self management and self efficacy need to be encouraged. Depression and anxiety are common after myocardial infarction and can influence outcome. A patient's mood state should be assessed routinely and regularly.

Figure 1

Predictors of attendance at cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. Variables were assessed using the illness perceptions questionnaire for perceived symptoms (scoring range 0–12) and perceived consequences (scoring range 1–5), and the coping orientation to problems experienced (COPE) for problem focused coping (scoring range 4–16) in 93 patients after discharge from hospital, just before they were due to attend cardiac rehabilitation.³

Figure 2

Comparison of high and low frequency exercise programmes on change in self efficacy during cardiac rehabilitation.⁵