Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
-
J Cardiopulm Rehabil · May 1998
The acceptable risk of driving after myocardial infarction: are bus drivers a special case?
Bus drivers frequently encounter difficulty in returning to their former employment after recovery from myocardial infarction. The risk that a recurrence of myocardial infarction may cause a personal-injury accident is analyzed. ⋯ The overall risk is 0.00002, 1 in 50,000 driver-years, is lower than accepted for passenger-car operators, and only slightly greater than for the older symptom-free adult. Bus drivers who meet the current standards of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society should be encouraged to return to their former employment.
-
J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Mar 1998
ReviewHelping older patients to cope with cardiac and pulmonary disease.
Family challenges, depression, and age-related developmental and psychological issues must be considered when structuring interventions for elder cardiopulmonary patients. Elderly patients tend to have difficulty coping when they face novel, unpredictable circumstances and are left to flounder in suspenseful anticipation. Furthermore, if support is not forthcoming during such times--or if they are treated in ways that strip them of control rather than in ways that bolster their sense of control--elderly patients are at great risk of quickly developing a passive, learned helplessness that can significantly complicate their rehabilitation. ⋯ Our task-driven health-care system, replete with its growing emphasis on brevity of treatments and cost-effectiveness, can create a style and pace of delivering care that demoralizes an elderly patient. The results can be devastating: "When the spirit is broken, one has no will to marshall coping skills". But health-care providers who are attuned to the psychosocial issues relevant to the later life stages can make a profound difference in enhancing both rehabilitation and quality of life for elderly cardiopulmonary patients and their loved ones.
-
Assessing depression in cardiac patients is challenging because somatic symptoms of depression may be the result of physical illness. This study examined self-reported symptoms of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease. ⋯ The results suggest that the IDD has promise as a measure to screen for depression in cardiac patients.
-
J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Mar 1997
Clinical TrialEffect of exercise training on dyspnea measures in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This study investigated the possible mechanisms for the expected improvement in dyspnea with pulmonary rehabilitation. ⋯ After pulmonary rehabilitation, there was a significant improvement in dyspnea. Although there was no evidence of a physiologic training response or enhanced mechanical efficiency, the modest increase in FEV1 and the increase in respiratory muscle strength appeared to contribute to the reduction in dyspnea.
-
J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Mar 1997
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialA regional comparison of cardiac rehabilitation personnel. Adherence to the 1995 American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines by Staff Position.
The American Association of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) established guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) personnel regarding educational degree attainment, licensure, and certification. New England hospital-based CR personnel were surveyed by staff position to determine their adherence to these guidelines. ⋯ Overall, compliance of New England hospital-based CR personnel with the AACVPR minimum/preferred guidelines for educational degree and certification was lacking, as was acquisition of ACSM certification. The effect of these findings on the future status of recommended and required CR personnel qualifications for hire merits attention.