Health care involvement preferences and social-emotional recovery of male coronary-artery-bypass patients.

Examined how the preferences of male coronary-bypass patients either for information or behavioral involvement, respectively, predicted social and emotional recovery during the year following hospital release. Preferences for health care involvement were assessed prior to surgery. Outcome measures were collected at 1-, 4-, and 13-month follow-ups. Results indicated that patients who preoperatively had a high relative to a low desire for behavioral involvement experienced less ambulation dysfunction, fewer social interaction problems, and less emotional upset during the initial 4 months following hospital release. Also, patients who had a high relative to a low desire for information involvement experienced more social interaction and emotional problems during this period. At the final follow-up, these involvement-group differences for social interaction and emotional status had disappeared, and no differences in cardiac health were found. However, there were systematic differences in use of medical services. Results are discussed with reference to recent considerations about the potential benefits of more active patient involvement in the health care process. Possible mechanisms and clinical implications are also discussed.