Validation and feasibility of problem-based learning in rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease

A patient education programme applying problem-based learning (PBL) was developed for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Groups with 6-8 patients and a tutor from the rehabilitation team met nine times for 1.5h each. The feasibility and validity of the model was evaluated using patient questionnaires, interviews with tutors and video observations of tutorials. The participants were active (69% of all input) and discussions of acquired knowledge and lifestyle changes took place in all groups. A total of 89% of the patients reported implementation of lifestyle changes and over 90% rated their learning and overall experience of the programme as acceptable or high and the demands as acceptable. Shortcomings were the limited use of some of the steps in the problem-solving process and tutors' difficulties in adapting to their new role; their answering of questions was higher than planned (35% of their total input). The programme was feasible in clinical routine.