Page 43 - Petelin, Ana. 2024. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih | Health of the Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik prispevkov z recenzijo | Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press

Studies indicate that distance from home to CR facilities is the prima-
ry reason for non-participation or dropout (Servey and Stephens, 2016). Wom-
en (due to fewer financial resources, transportation issues, and lack of social
and emotional support), the elderly (despite being most in need of CR), racial
and ethnic minorities are less likely to participate (Mampuya, 2012). In some
larger countries, remote home-based CR has been implemented. It has been
found that, compared to outpatient CR, there are no differences in effective-
ness, and a higher percentage of patients complete the programme (Anderson
et al., 2017).
Rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction involves a comprehen-
sive approach, including individual risk assessment, prescribed physical activi-
ty, education and support, and psychological assistance. The main goals of car-
diac rehabilitation (Ivanuša et al., 2015) are:

· restoring the patient’s functioning within social, family, and work 43
environments;
· encouraging patients to adopt lifestyle changes and take responsi-
bility for their health;
· preventing disease progression.

Therapeutic education is the most effective approach in cardiac rehabili-
tation, as it educates the patient about their condition with the aim of enabling
them to take responsibility and autonomy in their own treatment and lifestyle the importance of cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack ...
changes. Cardiac patients need help in dealing with psychosocial and profes-
sional challenges. Psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression are
very common after coronary events and are associated with reduced exercise
capacity, fatigue, and decreased quality of life (Mampuya, 2012).

Overview of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Izola General Hospital

In 2017, a new healthcare programme, »Ambulantna kardiološka rehabilitaci-
ja« (»Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation«) was introduced, based on the profes-
sional collaboration between the Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana (UKC
Ljubljana) and the Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije (ZZZS). The in-
troduction of this new programme followed advancements in medicine and
pharmacotherapy, particularly in the management of coronary patients. In-
stead of stationary treatment at a spa resort, extended outpatient rehabilitation
is now required for patients following the successful completion of acute myo-
cardial infarction treatment in the hospital (Kos, 2020). The goal in Slovenia is
to establish outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in every regional hospital. Thus,
between 2017 and 2020, cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes were estab-
lished at UKC Maribor and the general hospitals in Izola, Celje, Ptuj, Šmarješke
Toplice, and Slovenj Gradec (Jug, 2024).