Dealing with existential anxiety in exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation: a phenomenological‐hermeneutic study of patients' lived experiences

Abstract

Knowing that patients are confronted with an existential anxiety during exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation is important because it requires specific care. Recognising this anxiety also highlights how participating in the programme can be very demanding, which can help us understand aspects of adherence problems. Of greatest importance is that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation enables patients to find a new foothold, which comprises enjoying being physically active.