Do illness perceptions predict attendance at cardiac rehabilitation and quality of life following myocardial infarction?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which illness perceptions predict attendance at cardiac rehabilitation and quality of life following myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

The illness perceptions of 194 MI patients were assessed whilst the patients were still in hospital following an MI. The mean age was 63.3 years (S.D.=10.6), and 142 of the patients were men. Cardiac rehabilitation attendance and quality of life were assessed via a postal questionnaire 6 months later.

RESULTS

In contrast to previous work reported in this area, illness perceptions were not significantly associated with attendance at cardiac rehabilitation. Illness perceptions measured within 24 h of an acute MI were predictive of quality of life 6 months later.

CONCLUSION

Previous reports may have overestimated the extent to which illness perceptions predict attendance at cardiac rehabilitation. The relationship between illness perceptions and quality of life at 6 months suggests that interventions to alter illness perceptions, especially perceptions of consequences, may be useful in improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following an MI.