title: Predictors of women's attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programs.
abstract: This descriptive study was conducted to identify the factors that influence womens attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programs and womens adherence to risk factor modification following a cardiac event. Women (N=196) admitted to hospital for a cardiac event were followed-up at 12 weeks postdischarge. Despite eligibility, only 64% (n=112) had been referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs. By 12 weeks postdischarge only 32% of the total sample (n=57) attended programs and 12% of the total sample (n=21) had dropped out before completion. The odds of a woman attending cardiac rehabilitation were decreased by myocardial infarction diagnosis, lack of employment, <55 years or >70 years, and experiencing a personal stressful event during follow-up. Women were likely to adhere to smoking, medication, and stress modification guidelines but unlikely to adhere to modification guidelines for diet and exercise.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. Robyn.gallagher@uts.edu.au
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dracup
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009517:New South Wales; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health