Abstract
Results
Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that all illness perceptions other than timeline and personal control changed significantly
over the course of cardiac rehabilitation. Overall, cardiac rehabilitation patients came to view their illness as more benign.
Further analysis revealed that perceiving fewer emotional consequences of the illness, gaining a better understanding, and
attributing fewer symptoms to the illness at the end of cardiac rehabilitation, was related to better HRQOL.
over the course of cardiac rehabilitation. Overall, cardiac rehabilitation patients came to view their illness as more benign.
Further analysis revealed that perceiving fewer emotional consequences of the illness, gaining a better understanding, and
attributing fewer symptoms to the illness at the end of cardiac rehabilitation, was related to better HRQOL.
Conclusion
Illness perceptions change during cardiac rehabilitation and these changes are associated with enhanced quality of life. Clinical
trials have shown illness beliefs in cardiac patients to be modifiable during hospital admission; our results suggest that
cardiac rehabilitation may provide a second window of opportunity during which illness perceptions can be actively monitored
and modified if maladaptive.
trials have shown illness beliefs in cardiac patients to be modifiable during hospital admission; our results suggest that
cardiac rehabilitation may provide a second window of opportunity during which illness perceptions can be actively monitored
and modified if maladaptive.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9260-3
- Authors
- Veronica Janssen, Health Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- VĂ©ronique De Gucht, Health Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Henk van Exel, Rijnlands Rehabilitation Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Stan Maes, Health Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503