Cardiac-rehabilition decliners: perceptions and coping strategies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the illness perceptions and coping strategies of decliners of cardiac-rehabilitation programmes
IRAS ID
207022
Contact name
Michelle Constable
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 2 days
Research summary
In the UK there are 2.3 million people living with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), and 73,000 deaths are caused by CHD each year (www.nhs.uk, 2016). The diagnosis of a long term condition such as CHD can mean adapting to significant change (The Health Foundation, 2011). There is a growing body of research suggesting that coping is a mediating factor in health outcomes for people with long term conditions (Shen et al. 2004) with the potential to improve health outcomes. In relation to CHD, cardiac rehabilitation has been demonstrated to reduce morbidity and mortality rates (Dalal & Doherty, 2015). However, a significant number of eligible patients, reportedly between 30-60%, do not attend a single session (BHF, 2014). Research has proposed a number of reasons to explain non-attendance, including patients not being referred by clinicians and erroneous perceptions of the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (Dalal & Doherty, 2015). There is very little understanding of the cognitions, coping strategies and illness perceptions of people who decline cardiac rehabilitation. Therefore this qualitative study aims to develop the evidence base in this under researched area and explore how people who decline cardiac rehabilitation adjust to and manage their condition. This study will involve recruiting 20 participants who have declined cardiac-rehabilitation> Participants will be recruited through NHS cardiac-rehab teams, social media and advertising posters and a one hour semi-structured interview will be conducted, transcribed and then analysed. The Self-regulation model proposed by Leventhal et al. (1984) will be used to explore illness representations (e.g. cause, control, identity, timeline, and consequences) and coping strategies will be explored in relation to Folkman & Lazarus (1984) model of Stress, Appraisal & coping. The findings of this study will be used as a basis to inform support, develop future interventions to improve engagement and ultimately improve health outcomes for patients with CHD.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1683
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion