Psychosocial Well-Being and Healthy Eating in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A National Survey of Cardiac Rehabilitation Practitioners Self-Reported Practices.

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial well-being and nutritional counselling are important components of cardiac rehabilitation endorsed by national and international guidelines. However, both areas can be complex for cardiac rehabilitation practitioners to navigate. This study aimed to examine whether practitioners have implemented standardised program content for psychosocial well-being and healthy eating and explore attitudes to these components.

Method: Cardiac rehabilitation practitioners were recruited to complete a 32-item cross-sectional survey via convenience sampling. The survey was developed by a team of researchers and practitioners to assess practices, practitioner approaches, and any barriers to implementation. Quantitative results were explored using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were coded and classified.

Results: Participants (n=98) represented approximately 89 (22%) cardiac rehabilitation services across Australia. Results suggested that most participants were familiar with standardised program content (92.3%). However, there were inconsistencies about the implementation. For example, although 93.9% of practitioners stated that their programs routinely screen for psychosocial well-being, only 47.2% repeat screening at program completion. On healthy eating, 99% of practitioners report providing healthy dietary advice-however, just over half offered individualised consultations with an expert professional such as an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Practitioners considered psychosocial well-being and healthy eating important components of the program.

Conclusions: Practitioners reaffirm the importance of psychosocial well-being and nutritional counselling in cardiac rehabilitation programs. However, practitioners inconsistently assess psychosocial well-being at cardiac rehabilitation completion, and individualised dietary counselling by experts is uncommon.