The development of a comprehensive leisure counseling program for cardiac patients

Abstract

A seven step leisure counseling program was developed by the researcher to aid patients in dealing with increased free time. McDowell's leisure counseling orientations were uti1ized to develop the program. The program was structured to take place in both the inpatient and outpatient phases of cardiac rehabilitation. Wenger's fourteen step inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program and Peterson's STILAP leisure interest inventory were included in the program. The researcher developed a model community leisure resource guide for the city of La Crosse. This guide would be used to help patients identify community resources. A slide/tape show and corresponding booklet were also developed by the researcher to promote safe exercise by cardiac patients after discharge from Phase 11. The slide/tape program outlined the principles of aerobic conditioning and emphasized the use of the heart rate and METS to monitor activity intensity. Recreational and social activities were also emphasized. The corresponding booklet reinforced the concepts introduced in the slide/tape program and also included specific information about precautions to activity, warning signs of a heart attack, and environmental conditions. This leisure counseling program could be incorporated into existing cardiac rehabilitation programs to help patients find meaningful use of their leisure and to reduce the amount of time that patients devote to physical concerns.