| Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Cardiac rehabilitation has become an integral part of the treatment of the disease and it remains to have high drop out rates. The current study looks to explore the experiences of cardiac rehabilitation patients in a group setting and how this may contribute to adherence to these programs. This study used semi-structured interviews to evaluate the patients' experiences, which later were coded and analyzed. Results yielded five themes that were evident in the patients' interviews which included social connectedness, feeling understood, adherence, comfort and confidence regarding staff, and individualized focus that emphasized self-motivation as opposed to identifying with the group. Results showed that patients both endorsed and denied these thematic groupings. This study could serve as a valuable pilot project for future research. |
