Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Volume 34, Issue 3 , Pages 179-186, May 2005

Effect of a postoperative telephone intervention on attendance at intake for cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

  • Karen Harkness, BScN

      Affiliations

    • Hamilton Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Kelly M. Smith, MSc

      Affiliations

    • McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Lisa Taraba, MEd, RD

      Affiliations

    • City of Hamilton Public Health and Community Services Department, Ontario, Canada.
    • ,
  • Cheri L. MacKenzie, MSc

      Affiliations

    • McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Elizabeth Gunn, BKin

      Affiliations

    • Hamilton Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Heather M. Arthur, RN, PhD, NFESC

      Affiliations

    • McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Heather M. Arthur, RN, PhD, McMaster University, HSC 2J29, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada.

Background

Enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is suboptimal (25%–30%).

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a nurse-initiated telephone call (NIC) on attendance at a CR intake appointment.

Methods

By using a retrospective cohort design, data were collected on 3536 patients who underwent CABG between April 1996 and March 2000 and were referred to CR. Of these, 2285 patients received standard care (no NIC) and 1251 received the NIC.

Results

Patients who received the NIC were significantly more likely to attend their CR intake appointment compared with standard care (78.1% vs. 50.1%; P < .0001). Hierarchic logistic regression analysis revealed the NIC as the strongest predictor of attendance at a CR intake explaining 56.9% of the total variance (odds ratio =3.429; 95% confidence interval = 2.919–4.028; P < .0001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that pre-appointment telephone contact by a cardiovascular nurse is a valuable tool to enhance attendance at a CR intake appointment after CABG.

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 Supported by the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation (grant 92342).

PII: S0147-9563(04)00170-0

doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2004.07.010

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Volume 34, Issue 3 , Pages 179-186, May 2005

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