title: Psychological and Work Stress Assessment of Patients following Angioplasty or Heart Surgery: Results of 1-year Follow-up Study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore changes in subjective psychological health and perceived work stress among patients who returned to work (RTW) after a multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) following cardiac interventions. A total of 108 patients were evaluated at the beginning of their CR, at 6 and 12 months after discharge. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess depression, anxiety, illness perception and work stress at each time stage. Results showed reports of depressive symptoms significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and subjective mental (p = 0.001) and physical health (p < 0.001) improved over time. Patients revealed a decrease in Type A behaviour pattern (p < 0.001) and in job satisfaction levels (p = 0.01), greater internal locus of control (p < 0.01) and increased use of the coping strategy 'Involvement' (p < 0.01). Major findings are that cardiac patients had an improvement in subjective psychological health and did not perceive increased work stress after their RTW. Patients' psychological health and work stress need to be assessed during the CR and should be also carefully monitored after the RTW in order to identify patients' psychological and work-related barriers and facilitate a safe and successful work reintegration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.|Psychological Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiabane
authors.affiliation: Psychological Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine Unit, University of Pavia and Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Candura
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Argentero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: coronary angioplasty; heart surgery; psychological assessment; return to work; work stress