Beliefs about physical exercise and psychological changes after an acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Currently, there are still some questions about the psychological state after an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The first goal, based on a pilot study composed of men and women, wereevaluated the changes in beliefs regarding the usefulness of exercise as a health tool. The second one, from a new study formed by women, consisted on comparing the changes in psychological variables and their adjustments to the disease as well as observe differences, after going through a cardiac rehabilitation program that includes physical exercise.We evaluated 37patients of both sexes in study 1 (m =59.38 years of age (dt =9.80)) and 28 women in study 2 (m = 62.68 years of age (dt = 10.6)) who presented an ACS and to whom we had performed a diagnostic catheterization with therapeutic intent within the first 3 days. The study design was of the quasi-experimental, prospective and longitudinal type of repeated measures with a confidence interval of 95% and a significance level of .05. The results of the study 1 indicate a change in beliefs regarding the exercise after passing through the program. Study 2, indicates that at 3 months intrasubject changes are shown in anger expression, adjustment to the disease, health care, professional environment, distress and mental health.