Abstract

In Liverpool, standard Cardiac Phase-4 Programme varied from 3 - 9 months depending on centre attended. Evidence for setting the duration and patient contact frequency for community-based cardiac rehabilitation is uncertain. This study was carried out to explore how participants rated the 3 months Cardiac Phase-4 Programme whether it was long enough and whether it changed their lifestyle for the better. Questionnaires were administered at the end of the cardiac phase-4 rehabilitation programme and during 3 and 6 months follow-up in the community. The results indicated that about 90% of responders rated the programme to be excellent or good and that the score remained similar even when participants were followed-up at 3 and 6 months after discharge from the cardiac phase-4 rehabilitation programme. A similar pattern of response was observed for active lifestyle and duration of the Cardiac Phase-4 Programme. Interestingly, the MacNew Heart disease health-related quality of life scores remained similar even at 3 and 6 months after rehabilitation was completed. The result of this study indicates that a 3-months Cardiac Phase-4 Programme in Liverpool was sufficiently long and that service users rated the programme very highly.

Key words: Cardiac, phase-4 rehabilitation, lifestyle changes.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: CAD, Coronary artery disease; HRQL, healthrelated  quality of life; SURE, service users research endeavour.