January 1, 2010
View Full PaperCardiac Rehabilitation and Women
Key Result
Among eligible hospitalized women, 59% were referred to cardiac rehabilitation and 34% of those referred enrolled, with enrollment associated with higher education and intent to enroll (P<0.05).
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=131)
Structured PICO
P
Population
131 women hospitalized with an eligible cardiac rehabilitation diagnosis, assessed for referral and enrollment patterns more than 60 days postdischarge.
O
Outcome
Referral to cardiac rehabilitation and enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation more than 60 days postdischarge
Cardiac rehabilitation referral and enrollment rates among eligible women remain low, with lower education and lack of intent to enroll identified as key barriers.
Main Result
p-value: p=<.05
Abstract
In Brief BACKGROUND Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is underutilized, especially among women. The goal of this study was to examine CR referral and enrollment patterns among eligible women and identify factors associated with utilization. METHODS The sample included women (n = 131) hospitalized with an eligible CR diagnosis between April 2001 and August 2002. Inpatient interviews were conducted to explore the perceptions of women about CR. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between women who were referred and those who were not referred to CR. Enrollment to CR was ascertained more than 60 days postdischarge. Among referred women, clinical and demographic characteristics and perceptions about CR were compared between women who enrolled and those who did not enroll. Separate multivariate regression analyses identified factors associated with (1) referral to CR and (2) enrollment in CR among women who had been referred. RESULTS There were 77 (59%) women referred to CR. In the final regression model, no demographic or clinical factors were found to be associated with CR referral. Among the women referred to CR, 34% enrolled in CR. In the final regression model, it was found that nonenrollees had lower education levels (<12 years) than did enrollees, and women who enrolled were more likely to give the highest score for “likely to attend CR” during the interview compared with nonenrollees (P < .05). CONCLUSION CR referral and enrollment rates among women remain disappointingly low. Societal barriers, such as low education, often impede CR participation. However, intent to enroll as expressed by the patient may be amenable to an intervention during the hospital stay. This study examined cardiac rehabilitation referral and enrollment patterns among eligible women and identified factors associated with utilization. Societal barriers, such as low education, often impede cardiac rehabilitation participation among women. However, patient intent to enroll at time of hospitalization is associated with enrollment and may be amenable to an intervention.
Cite This Study
Sanderson et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Eligible cardiac rehabilitation diagnosis (n=131). Factors associated with cardiac rehabilitation utilization vs. Unexposed/reference groups (e.g., lower education, no intent to enroll) was evaluated on Cardiac rehabilitation referral and enrollment rates (p=<.05). Among eligible hospitalized women, 59% were referred to cardiac rehabilitation and 34% of those referred enrolled, with enrollment associated with higher education and intent to enroll (P<0.05).