Relationship between Social Networks and the Recovery Rate in Patients with Coronary Heart Disorder after Heart By-pass Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: One important problem, regarding patients who undergo bypass surgery, is insufficient recovery after surgery. Delayed surgical recovery leads to some negative clinical, psychological, and economic consequences for both the patients and providers of medical care services. The current research was conducted to determine the relationship between social networks and the recovery rate of cardiovascular patients after the heart bypass surgery. Methods: This study was conducted as a quantitative cross-sectional research. The sample population includes cardiac patients who underwent heart bypass surgery at least one week before. The instruments of data collections were Berckman and Sim’s social network index (BSSNI) and an author-made questionnaire on recovery rate. Results: There was a statistically significant difference among patients with quick and slow recoveries, concerning the social networks (P<0.01). Conclusion: Patients making quick recovery had wider social network compared to those making slow recovery. The findings indicated that a social network is an influential factor in social and behavioral interferences aiming at increasing recovery rate of cardiovascular patients after heart bypass surgery.