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

Sarah Gauci; Georgia K Chaseling; Susie Cartledge; Madeline L West; Ling Zhang; Clara Zwack; Matthew Hollings; Tom Briffa; Robyn Gallagher; Julie Redfern; Adrienne O'Neil

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2024.11.027

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

Heart Lung Circ. 2025 May;34(5):506-514. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.11.027. Epub 2025 Feb 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; SOLVE-CHD NHMRC Synergy Grant, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: sarah.gauci@deakin.edu.au.
² SOLVE-CHD NHMRC Synergy Grant, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁴ The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic, Australia.
⁵ Department of Nursing and Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁶ SOLVE-CHD NHMRC Synergy Grant, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁷ SOLVE-CHD NHMRC Synergy Grant, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁸ Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia; SOLVE-CHD NHMRC Synergy Grant, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁹ The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic, Australia; SOLVE-CHD NHMRC Synergy Grant, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 39961743
DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.11.027

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.

Keywords: Attitudes of health personnel; Cardiac rehabilitation; Healthy eating; Psychosocial well-being; Survey study.

Publication types

Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia / epidemiology
Cardiac Rehabilitation* / methods
Cardiac Rehabilitation* / psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet, Healthy*
Female
Heart Diseases* / psychology
Heart Diseases* / rehabilitation
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Self Report*
Surveys and Questionnaires