Resource support and heart patient recovery.

Abstract

This prospective study examines the effects of resources utilized by myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary artery bypass (BY) patients in the recovery process. The resource support model incorporates formal (institutionalized) and semi-formal (mutual aid) services along with informal assistance (social networks). Patient interview data were collected on 147 MI and 159 BY patients at hospitalization and at 3 months. Sociodemographic, illness and resource data were obtained, and hospital records were abstracted. Two outcomes were evaluated: activity limitations and work capacity. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess individual and resource effects. Multivariate analyses revealed that, for MI patients, a higher level of activity prior to hospitalization and a shorter hospital stay were significantly related to recovery. A smaller social network with greater frequency of contact enhanced recovery. For BY patients, recovery was significantly associated with higher social class higher level of activity prior to hospitalization and fewer health care visits. Outcome based on work capacity revealed that MI patients who were younger in age, male sex and who had fewer prescribed medications were more likely to recover. By patients had a similar pattern as that observed for MI patients in terms of age and sex. Co-morbidity had a negative effect on recovery. Those with less affective informal support were more likely to have recovered. The resource support model employed in this prospective study proved to have mixed results. However, the model may be a useful multifactorial framework for examining the effects on patient recovery over a longer duration.