From Challenges to Solutions: Patient Insights Inform Psychological Intervention Design After Spontaneous Coronary...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a significant cause of acute coronary syndrome, predominantly affecting women.
• SCAD survivors frequently experience psychological distress, yet cardiac rehabilitation programs often inadequately address their mental health needs.
• There is limited evidence on the specific preferences of SCAD survivors regarding psychological support interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological intervention preferences of spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivors.
• To identify potential sex-based differences in these preferences.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of SCAD patients diagnosed within the last three years from six Canadian hospitals.
• Administration of questionnaires to assess sociodemographic and clinical data.
• Utilizing a 5-point Likert scale to gauge participant interest in intervention content and delivery methods, with descriptive statistics and t-tests for sex difference analysis.

Main Results:

• Top preferences included stress management, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral strategies, and processing SCAD-related trauma.
• SCAD survivors favored SCAD-specific programming delivered by healthcare professionals within 1-3 months post-event.
• Women showed higher interest in health advocacy and communication with children, with a notable preference for gender-specific interventions.

Conclusions:

• SCAD survivors desire early, individualized interventions that are SCAD- and gender-specific.
• Interventions should concentrate on cognitive, emotional, and trauma processing, delivered by healthcare professionals.
• Development and testing of targeted psychological interventions are crucial for SCAD survivors.