Date of Degree

8-1994

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Program

Nursing

Advisor

Katherine Gallia

Advisor

Sara Kolb

Advisor

Brenda Jackson

Abstract

This study was designed to explore the effect of cardiac rehabilitation program participation on anxiety, quality of life, and self-care among coronary artery disease patients.

Major lifestyle changes are required after a person experiences an acute coronary event. Rehabilitation programs for coronary artery disease patients are designed to assist the patient with these lifestyle changes by altering the survivor's self-care patterns and improve long-term physical and psychological outcomes. By coordinating education, counseling, and exercise programs, the nurse can help individuals move toward a maximal physiological, psychological, social and vocational recovery. This study was designed to explore the effect of cardiac rehabilitation program participation on anxiety, quality of life, and self-care among coronary artery disease patients. Fifteen patients with coronary artery disease aged 45-81 were included in the study sample. Data was collected before initial participation in the cardiac rehabilitation program and again at the completion of the 12 week program. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure anxiety. Quality of life was measured with the Perceived Quality of Life Scale. The Health Behavior Scale was used to measure performance of suggested self-care behaviors (modify diet, administer medications, manage stress, exercise, and reduce smoking). No significant differences were found between pretest and posttest means on quality of life. State Anxiety, and the self-care behaviors of diet modification, medication administration, exercise, and smoking reduction. Trait-Anxiety did exhibit a significant decrease between pretest and posttest means, as did the ability of the participants to modify responses to stressful situations. Further research efforts are needed with larger samples to document empirically the influence of cardiac rehabilitation participation on quality of life, anxiety, and self-care among coronary artery disease patients.

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