The Hunter outpatient cardiac care study

Mrs Janet Fisher, Ms Kerry Inder (John Hunter Hospital), Dr Natalie Johnson, Dr Amanda Nagle (National Heart Foundation), Dr John Wiggers (HCHA)

National and international practice guidelines and policy statements for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) recommend that it be offered to all patients with cardiovascular disease. As there are few Australian data regarding the proportions of cardiac patients who are offered, actually attend or complete such a program, this collaborative project between staff employed by the Hunter Area Health Service, the Hunter Centre for Health Advancement, the National Heart Foundation and The University of Newcastle, sought to describe participation rates in outpatient CR programs in the Hunter Region of NSW. The Hunter Heart and Stroke Register identified and contacted potential study participants on behalf of the study team between 1 March 1998 and 28 February 1999. Study results regarding rates of CR participation in the Hunter has been disseminated via a poster presentation given at the 3rd Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (Washington DC, 30 September - 1 October 2001) and via a paper submitted to the Medical Journal of Australia. Results regarding the factors associated with referral to an outpatient CR program has been disseminated via an oral presentation at the International Cardiac Rehabilitation Scientific Meeting and Exhibition 2002 (Sydney, 9-11 May 2002) and via a paper submitted to the American Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. A manuscript describing the factors associated with attendance and completion is being prepared.