September 1, 1998
View Full PaperCardiac Rehabilitation Referral and Attendance: Not One and the Same
Key Result
This review highlights that despite the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation following a primary cardiac event, attendance rates remain low, emphasizing the need to address barriers to referral and attendance.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Patients following a primary cardiac event eligible for cardiac rehabilitation
E
Exposure
Cardiac rehabilitation programs
This review highlights the critical distinction between referral to and actual attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programs, emphasizing the need to address barriers to patient participation.
Abstract
Despite empirical evidence that cardiac rehabilitation programs can play a significant role in enhancing recovery following a primary cardiac event and in enacting secondary prevention measures, attendance rates remain remarkably low. Referral and attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programs are not one and the same. Recognizing this, issues related to the referral of eligible patients to cardiac rehabilitation and factors that affect patients' decisions regarding attendance must be identified and addressed. This article presents an overview of the potential benefits of cardiac rehabilitation programs, describes salient issues related to referral and attendance, and identifies directions for future research.