This study was to analyze research reports published in Korea on cardiac rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular disease.

Based on inclusion criteria, 19 research reports were included in this review. Published year of selected articles was between 1996 and 2008. Nineteen studies were analyzed by guidelines of the cardiac rehabilitation programs done by the American Heart Association (AHA) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).

The characteristics of patients were mostly of ischemic heart disease, 50-59 yr old, and male. Educational sessions were administered twice, and each lesson lasted less than 30 min. Exercise was done 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Most educational content were about risk factors, but there was no information, such as coping with feelings. Most exercise was performed as ROM, treadmill, and cycle ergometer. A large percentage of outcome indicators were health behavior, hemodynamic changes, and exercise capacity. There was more 'no effect' than 'positive effect' in trait anxiety and depression, whereas similar in physiologic domain.

Various types of cardiac rehabilitation in Korea were performed by researchers. Therefore, we need to develop the standard protocol, to add psychosocial intervention, and to study cost effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation.

The main purpose of this study was to develop a substantive theory on the life of patients with heart transplantation in the context of Korean society and culture. The question for the study was “What is the life of patients like with a heart transplant?”.

A grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. Participants for this study were 12 adults who regularly visited a Cardiovascular ambulatorium in a medical center. The data was collected through an in-depth interview and analyses were performed simultaneously.

‘Developing a new life to live on borrowed time’ was the core category in this study. It revealed two types of life, one is living in peace and another is thinking positive.

This study provides a framework for the development of individualized nursing interventions to care for patients with Heart Transplantation. The findings may provide pointers for health professionals about ways to improve support for heart transplant recipients.