Why do women attend and continue cardiac rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention, designed to improve the life of the post-myocardial infarction (MI) patient and reduce his/her morbidity and mortality. Although the benefits apply equally to women and men, research shows that patient nonattendance particularly among the elderly female population is an important problem. This qualitative study (which forms par t of a much larger doctoral study) explores some of the factors that influence women's decisions to attend cardiac rehabilitation after an MI. Using a feminist grounded theory research approach, ten female post-MI patients were inter viewed about their cardiac rehabilitation. Preliminary analysis suggests that women choosing to attend claim that it increases their self-confidence, understanding of their condition and feeling of empowerment. They perceive themselves to be ‘restored’ to a functional level they had had before their MI. Information gained from this study could be used to inform the development of gender-specific cardiac rehabilitation programmes.