The impact of knowledge and beliefs on adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programs in patients with heart failure: A systematic review

© 2010, Joanna Briggs Institute. All rights reserved. Review Question: What is the impact of knowledge and beliefs of Heart Failure patients on their adherence to a cardiac rehabilitation program? Review Objective: The objective is to examine the relationship among knowledge, beliefs and adherence to a cardiac rehabilitation program in patients with Heart Failure (HF). More specifically, the objectives are to identify: The impact of knowledge and beliefs of HF patients on adherence to their: 1) medication regime 2) low sodium diet 3) exercise recommendations 4) other lifestyle recommendations, such as daily weighing and symptom management Inclusion Criteria: Types of participants: The review will consider studies that include patients, 18 years and older, who have a clinical diagnosis of Heart Failure, irregardless of the type of HF, and have been admitted to a cardiac rehabilitation program in inpatient or outpatient settings, irregardless of gender, ethnicity and the presence of co-morbidities. Types of interventions (Phenomena of Interest): This review will consider studies that evaluate the impact of HF patients’ knowledge and beliefs of their disease, medication, diet, exercise and other lifestyle change recommendations, on their adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programs. Types of outcome measures: This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: The adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programs in patients with HF. As cardiac rehabilitation programs are made up of many different components, the specific outcomes of interest in this study will include the following: The adherence to medication regimes in patients with HF The adherence to low-sodium diet recommendations in patients with HF The adherence to exercise recommendation in patients with HF The adherence to other lifestyle recommendations, such as daily weighing and symptom management, in patients with HF.