Abstract for presentation at Global Social Work 2004

Aim: Coronary artery disease is the largest single cause of death in Australia. The modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease are well known and include smoking, raised blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and obesity. Despite this roughly only half of survivors follow medical directives in modifying lifestyle behaviors that impact on secondary risk prevention.(Rabinowitz and Florian 1992) Social work practice with younger patients recovering from myocardial infarction suggested that complex psychosocial issues impacted on their motivation and involvement in the rehabilitation process and needed to be included as part of a systemic approach to disease management. The aim of the study was to explore the contribution of complex psychosocial factors on secondary risk prevention for myocardial infarction in younger adults.(under 55 years)
Methodology: The research design involved a test, double re-test model using an integrated qualitative and quantitative methodology. A combination of open-ended and standardised questionnaires was used in the three phases of the project.( N=20) The sample was recruited and interviewed initially in the ward, and then contacted three and six months later over the telephone. Descriptive statistics were obtained for all variables. For the purposes of establishing whether group scores changed between assessments, and for significant relationships between variables, t-tests for dependent measures were computed using non-parametric statistics for small samples. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic content analysis.
Discussion: We will discuss the contribution of complex psychosocial issues on the motivation and ability of younger cardiac patients to participate in disease management programs. A model for cardiac rehabilitation that integrates these issues into a multi-dimensional patient focused approach, will be suggested.