Abstract / Summary
This thesis presents a synthesis of a body of original research spanning over 30 years, focusing on the advancement and application of the care and rehabilitation of people with coronary heart disease. The work addresses the psychosocial experiences, needs, interventions and outcomes among people with coronary heart disease. Using a variety of research methods, this body of work reported across 32 peer-reviewed publications, yielded three principal inter-related psychosocial contrubutions:1. identification of experiences and needs of people with coronary heart disease; 2. design and evaluation of interventions for people with coronary heart disease; and 3. development of validation of health outcome measures for people with coronary heart disease. The practical and theoretical implications of this body of work are substantial. This research has informed many national and international expert position/consensus statements and clinical guidelines. The studies that form this body of work also offers suggestions for further research in this field, with the hope of developing cost-effective and sustainable models of care. Please note that sections of 'Part G: Reproduced Publications' have been redacted due to copyright restrictions. A full print copy of the thesis can be consulted in the McClay Library.