Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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What level of fitness improvement occurs during Phase III
cardiac rehabilitation ?
Gabrielle McKee BA(Mod) PhD
School of Nursing and Midwifery
24 D’Olier St
Dublin 2
+353 1 8962779
+353 1 8963001
gmckee@tcd.ie
Abstract
The positive effect of increased physical activity/fitness and of
participation in cardiac rehabilitation programmes has long been
established. The aim of this study was to determine the level of
fitness improvement following Phase III cardiac rehabilitation
programmes. The study is a descriptive study of patients who
participated in a 6 or 8 week Phase III cardiac rehabilitation
programme. Physical fitness was ascertained by exercise stress
tests using the Bruce protocol pre and post programme. The
recommended guidelines for the termination of the stress test and
exclusion criteria from the test were applied. The Karvoren method
was used to calculate target heart rate and exercise prescription
was set at a maximum of 60% of this. The results of the exercise
stress test were converted to MET’s (metabolic equivalents). The
sample number was 187, which was made up of 134 males and 53
females. The average age was 59.33 ± 9.58 years. The T values
between MET’s level achieved pre programme and post programme
was 0.035, significant at the 0.05 level. Pre programme stress test
results gave a mean MET’S level of 9.02 ± 2.99 of which 63% of
patients could be classified as sedentary (MET’s ≤ 10). Mean MET’s
level post programme were 10.10 ± 2.66, indicating that now only
56% could be classified as sedentary. The level of fitness was also
classified using AHA( American Heart Association classification of
fitness taking age and gender into account. Greatest improvements
occurred in the patients in the lowest fitness categories, while those
in the higher fitness category had little improvements. Significant
increases in fitness occurred following participation in a Phase III
cardiac rehabilitation programmes, with greatest changes occurring
in the least fit. However there are still a substantial number of
patients classified as sedentary from a fitness point of view post
Phase III cardiac rehabilitation programme.
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