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Looking beyond the biophysical realm to optimize health: results of a survey of psychological well-being in adults with congenital cardiac disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2008

Yvonne E. Balon ,
Karen L. Then ,
James A. Rankin  and
Tak Fung
Yvonne E. Balon*
Affiliation:
Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Calgary Health Region and University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Karen L. Then
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
James A. Rankin
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Tak Fung
Affiliation:
Department of Information Technologies, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Correspondence to: Yvonne E. Balon, RN, BN, MN, Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Peter Lougheed Hospital, Room 1841, 3500 – 26 Avenue, NE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T1Y 6J4. Tel: 403-943-4507; Fax: 403-291-6814; E-mail: yvonne.balon@calgaryhealthregion.ca
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Abstract

Background

The purpose was to examine the relationship between the complexity of structural heart disease and psychological well-being in adults with congenital cardiac disease.

Methods

A total of 380 patients registered at the Adult Congenital Heart Clinic in Calgary, Alberta, Canada were surveyed. The patients were mailed a socio-demographic questionnaire and an instrument to measure psychological well-being. The instrument of psychological well-being measures six dimensions: positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Of the 380 patients surveyed, 85 of 205 patients with simple structural malformation responded, giving a response rate of 41%, and 78 of 175 patients with complex malformations, thus giving a response of 45%.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of each of the six dimensions of psychological well-being between those patients with simple and complex malformations. Two-way analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of variance, found significant differences in mean scores for dimensions when other socio-demographic variables were included in the analysis. For example, significantly higher mean scores for the dimension of purpose in life was found in patients who obtained a higher level of education (p = 0.009), and in patients who were employed (p < 0.001). We present the socio-demographic variables that statistically impact the mean scores for the dimension of psychological well-being.

Conclusion

Psychological well-being is not affected by the complexity of the structural congenital cardiac disease. Certain socio-demographic variables that impact psychological well-being, nonetheless, must be considered when developing multidisciplinary programmes to care for young adults with congenitally malformed hearts.

Keywords

Congenital cardiac diseaseadultsgrown-ups with congenital cardiac disease
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 494 - 501
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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