A qualitative study of patient's perceptions of two cardiac rehabilitation models

Understanding patients' perceptions about rehabilitation can guide healthcare administrators on modifications of program elements, which can ultimately improve cardiac rehabilitation (CR) use, adherence of heart-health behaviors, and improvements in clinical outcomes.

To examine the perception of patients about their participation in CR.

Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, performed in a public CR center in Brazil. Twenty-eight patients were interviewed 2-years following participation in two CR models: exercise-based and comprehensive CR.

Themes identified included: knowledge acquisition, improvement in functionality, and psychosocial well-being. It appeared that the perceived benefits of CR participation were overall positive and similar between the two models; however, those in the comprehensive CR identified additional subthemes: self-care need and knowledge transfer.

This study suggested that patients from two different CR models perceived in the long term that the CR participation positively impacted their disease-related knowledge, promoted functional gains, and improved psychosocial well-being. Structured educational interventions seemed to be associated with improved participants' perception about CR, which could contribute to long-term maintenance of heart-health behavior and better outcomes.