The Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Medical and Surgical Patients

Abstract

The Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Medical and Surgical Patients The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on self-esteem, exercise capacity, and perceived exercise capacity of ·medical and surgical patients. The sample consisted of 11 men and 6 women between the ages of 32-81 years with a mean age of 56.5 years. All subjects participated in 12 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation. Chi square analysis revealed no significant difference in the groups based upon demographic data. Paired I-tests revealed' that cardiac patients have increased self-esteem (p.=.002); perceived exercise capacity (p = .001), and actual exercise capacity (p = .01) after completing a cardiac rehabilitation program. Analysis of ' covariance indicated that surgical patients do not differ significantly from medical patients in levels of self-esteem, perceived exercise capacity, or actual exercise capacity. Spearman rank order correlation revealed that there was a ' I positive correlation between : self-esteem as measured by the Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale (RSE) and perceived exercise capacity as measured by the Ference-Gueldner Picture Form of the Ference Field Motion Tool (FGPFFM). Results of the study demonstrated that although medical and surgical patients did not differ significantly in self-esteem and exercise capacity, cardiac rehabilitation programs assist all cardiac patients tested to restore physical capacity and psychosocial functioning.