Supervisors info:
Ηρώ Μπροκαλάκη, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Αθηνά Καλοκαιρινού, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλας Φώτος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction: Despite the well – known benefits offered by CR, it seems that patients after
MI, face some barriers that make it difficult for them to participate in a CR program.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the barriers to participation in cardiac
rehabilitation aftermyocardial infarction.
Material and Methods: The database PubMed was searched by using the appropriate
keywords: «cardiacrehabilitation», «participation», «barriers», «obstacles» and
«myocardialinfarction».The terms «barriers», «obstacles», «myocardial infarction» and
«participation» were not used on their own but in conjunction with the term «cardiac
rehabilitation». The study population focused only on patients with MI. The selection
criteria for the article search were the following: a) Studies conducted in humans, b)
Studies published in the last decade, c) Studies in adults > 18 years old and d) Studies
published in English.
Results: From the literature search a total of 1799 studies were found, of which only 11
were finally selected. All studies have shown that barriers to CR can be classified into two
main categories: 1) Obstacles related to the patient such as gender, age, family and work
status of the individual, the existence of comorbidities, race - language, perceptions, the
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previous level of physical condition and smoking habit 2) Obstacles related to the health
system - health professionals such as accessibility in the rehabilitation center - program,
income - insurance coverage of the individual, the quality of care provided and finally the
incomplete information and training by health professionals.
Conclusions: Need to create more CR centers, as well as the services provided by the
centers should be covered by patients' insurance funds. Need for training of health
professionals and the provision of incentives to patients to participate in CR programs.
Keywords:
Cardiac rehabilitation, Participation, Barriers, Obstacles, Myocardial infarction
