Factors determining non-attendance at a cardiac rehabilitation programme following myocardial infarction.

AIM

To identify factors contributing to patient nonattendance at an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme following hospital admission for a first myocardial infarction.

METHODS

Consecutive patients admitted over a two year period to the Auckland or Green Lane Hospital Coronary Care Units for a first myocardial infarction were identified. All patients had been invited to attend the cardiac rehabilitation programme during their admission. A questionnaire was mailed to all identified patients.

RESULTS

Overall 324 patients were identified with a mean age of 61 years, of whom 212 (65%) subsequently attended the cardiac rehabilitation programme. 220 of the 324 patients (68%) responded to the questionnaire. Univariate analysis revealed that non-attenders were less well educated (p <0.05), more often from a lower socioeconomic status (p<0.05) and lived alone (p<0.05). Non-attendance and withdrawal from the programme were most frequently related to transport and inconvenient scheduling.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with less education, lower socioeconomic status and patients living alone were less likely to attend a cardiac rehabilitation programme. Provision of a transport service and more flexible scheduling of the programme may improve attendance.