Changes in disease-related knowledge and educational needs of patients with coronary heart disease over a six-month period between hospital discharge and follow-up

• Published in: Patient Education and Counseling
• Main Authors: Svavarsdóttir, Margrét Hrönn, Halapi, Eva Charlotte, Ketilsdóttir, Auður, Ólafsdóttir, Inga Valborg, Ingadóttir, Brynja
• Other Authors: Faculty of Nursing, Other departments, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Hjúkrun langveikra fullorðinna; Hjúkrun aðgerðasjúklinga; Educational needs; Health knowledge; Health literacy; Heart disease; Patient education; Self-care; Follow-Up Studies; Coronary Disease/therapy; Humans; Patient Discharge; Male; Educational Status; Attitudes; Practice; Hospitals; Female; Surveys and Questionnaires; Aged; Medicine (all); Akureyri; University of Akureyri
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/4498; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.107972

Funding Information: The study was supported by the Icelandic Regional Development Institute, Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund , Akureyri Hospital Research Fund , University of Akureyri Research Fund , Icelandic Nursing Association Research Fund , KEA Research Fund, and Akureyri Heart Association . Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Objective: To describe changes in the disease-related knowledge and educational needs of individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: Patients hospitalized for CHD answered questionnaires about disease-related knowledge (Coronary Artery Disease Education Questionnaire—short version (CADE-Q-SV), score 0–20), educational needs (investigator–designed questions), health literacy (Short version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16)), self-care (Self-Care of Coronary Heart Disease Inventory version (SC-CHDI)), and physical activity (Leisure-time Physical Activity Questionnaire) at discharge (T1) and six months later (T2). Results: Participants’ (N = 308; mean [M] age=65.5 years [SD=8.7]; 81.5% male) knowledge scores increased from M= 13.8 (SD=3.2) to M= 14.8 (SD=2.8) (p < 0.001). At T1, educational level, age, health literacy, smoking, and self-care maintenance explained 14.5% of knowledge variability. At T2, these variables plus lack of awareness of CHD diagnosis explained 20.3% of the variability. Substantial educational needs were reported at both time points, although 89% received predischarge education. Conclusion: The patients’ educational needs were unfulfilled despite an increase in disease-related knowledge over time. Improved evidence-based patient education and follow-ups that address diagnosis, treatment, and self-care are needed. Practice Implications: Healthcare professionals can improve care of patients with CHD by providing focused patient education, prioritizing “need-to-know” topics and considering patients’ health literacy. Peer ...