Patient semeiology of a chronic disease Rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Programs of cardiac rehabilitation emphasize the importance of an early return of the patient to normal levels of activity, within the limits of his residual heart damage. But this is sometimes blocked because the patient, or others who influence him, hold an opposite view about the efficacy of activity for the cardiac, and cardiacs report that other people expect them to be inactive and "take it easy." This interview survey of 1137 adults in a representative sample of Rhode Island households was undertaken to determine the image of appropriate behavior of the cardiac held by Rhode Island laymen.The data show that these respondents were favorable towards activity for the cardiac, and rejected the view that the cardiac should be restricted and lead a passive life. When personal experience with heart disease was introduced as a control, variations in expectations on the basis of experience were discovered. Persons who claimed to have had an attack were more favorable towards the restriction of activity than were persons who had no past experience with heart disease, or whose experience was limited to knowing someone who had a heart attack. Respondents with higher income and education levels were more likely to favor activity for the cardiac, whereas age was negatively associated with the activity-favorable view. Consistent expectations were found when the responses on one series of items on expectations were compared with responses on another series in which the respondent was asked what he would expect to be ordered for him if he had an attack.