Predicting the psychological and physiological prognosis of cardiac rehabilitation patients

[摘要] The large percentage of deaths attributed to recurrent Coronary Heart Disease(CHD) has generated a search for behavioural and psychological factors whichmitigate the consequences of CHD. An aim of the present thesis is to extend thissearch by identifying factors which predict prognosis fer recovery from CHD. Twokey factors seen to influence prognosis are aerobic exercise and Type A behaviour.Extant research into the role of exercise has been hindered by methodologicalweaknesses. As a consequence, the precise means by which exercise influencesCHD patients' psychological and physiological strain remains unclear. Similarly,the Type A literature has been flawed by the inaccurate conceptualisation andmeasurement of Type A behaviour as a global, and 110t a multidimensional,construct. Research which has examined the multidimensional nature of Type Abehaviour has been restricted to low risk samples. Thus, a further aim. of thepresent research is to examine ; prognostic role of exercise and Type Acomponents within the context of cardiac rehabilitation. In achieving this aim, three studies are conducted. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand