The influence of psychological factors and an early hospital follow-up on return to work after first myocardial infarction.

The factors influencing the return to work following first myocardial infarction were studied in 112 male patients, all of whom had previously been fully employed. Delay in return to work within 4 months of discharge from hospital was seen in patients who were not given an early hospital follow-up appointment and in those who attibuted their illness to aspects of their work. Encouragement by the General Practitioner to resume employment was found to be essential if an unnecessary delay was to be avoided. Positive advice of this nature was given more frequently by General Practitioners whose patients had been seen at early hospital review. Age, a tendency to neuroticism, personal knowledge of how others had fared following a similar illness, and apparent benefit from sick payments did not appear to influence the rate of return to work.