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Does a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program improve patients' and caregivers' emotional state in LVAD patients?

Artificial Organs 2018 August 30
Few studies evaluated the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs on perceived emotional and health-status of LVAD patients, and none explored their effect on caregivers' strain. We enrolled one hundred nineteen adult LVAD patients, together with their caregivers (n. 91), in two Rehabilitation Institutes that provided inpatient multidisciplinary activities. At admittance and prior to discharge they completed questionnaires evaluating patient emotional state and subjective perception of health status, caregiver strain, and patient and caregiver perception of LVAD. Six months after discharge, patients and caregivers were contacted again and asked specific questions about their quality of life. Patients' state anxiety and depression symptoms significantly diminished at discharge (.000), whereas their perception of general health status rose (.000). Caregivers' perceived strain also significantly decreased (.001) and the perceived device management skill grew both for patients and caregivers (.000). A substantial quote (36%) of psychologically frail patients and caregivers, although improving their emotional condition, never reached that of the less frail subjects. At the 6 months follow-up, both patients and caregivers appeared stable in evaluating respectively their general health and their caregiving-related strain, compared to discharge. Our data show that a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program improves the emotional state of LVAD patients and of their caregivers, even in psychologically frailer subjects. Team approach makes patients and caregivers self-confident about device management, increasing their knowledge, clarifying their doubts, and encouraging them to handle the difficulties met during the rehabilitation period, suggesting strategies to cope with daily-life at home. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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