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A supportive–educative caring rehabilitation programme; improvements of physical health after myocardial infarction
Author(s) -
FRIDLUND BENGT,
PIHLGREN CHRISTINA,
WANNESTIG LENABRITT
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2702.1992.tb00084.x
Subject(s) - medicine , physical therapy , calisthenics , rehabilitation , myocardial infarction , physical fitness , exertion , chest pain
Summary• The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a supportive–educative caring rehabilitation programme involving interdisciplinary efforts to improve the physical health of myocardial infarction patients (MI‐patients). • MI‐patients chosen at random participated either in a 6‐month programme or normal medical follow‐up. • Instruments designed for both subjective and objective measuring of recovery of physical health were used. • Subjective capacity showed significant differences ( P 0·05‐0·001) concerning: (i) reported pain and exertion 5 weeks and 6 months after MI during physical exercise, (ii) perceived breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, physical fitness 6 and 12 months after MI, and (iii) reported callisthenics and coitus 6 and 12 months after MI. • Significant differences ( P 0·05‐0·001) in objective capacity were indicated concerning: (i) a symptom‐limited submaximal physical exercise test 5 weeks and 6 months after MI, and (ii) reinfarctions 12 months after MI. • The strength of the study rests on the fact that the improvements of physical health could be statistically verified, regarding both subjective and objective capacity of the MI‐patients. The described caring efforts are simple, easy to carry out and take little time for the MI‐patients and their next‐of‐kin as well as for the health‐care personnel.