The relationship between pre-treatment attitudes and recovery: The cardiac catheterization example

The relationships among expectation, satisfaction and anxiety, as well as among these factors and the perception of recovery and physician assessment of recovery, are examined in a longitudinal study of patients' attitudes just prior to post-cardiac catheterization treatment. Final assessment of recovery was made six weeks later by interviewing patients (perceived recovery) and the physician (actual medical assessment of recovery). Positive expectations and present satisfaction were negatively correlated with state anxiety, but not associated with perceived or physician assessed recovery. Only patient age was a predictive factor for recovery. Positive correlation between subjective and objective assessments of recovery was found for all age groups, being strongest among young people.