Long-term efficacy of a checklist to improve patient education in cardiology

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Health Psychology
• Patient Education

Background:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) patients require ongoing medical management and education.
• Effective patient preparation for cardiologist visits can improve outcomes.
• Patient-doctor communication and knowledge are crucial for managing chronic conditions like CAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) checklist designed to prepare CAD outpatients for cardiologist visits.
• To assess the impact of the FAQ checklist on patient anxiety, knowledge, communication, satisfaction, and visit duration.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with CAD outpatients.
• Patients received an FAQ checklist via mail at 1, 4, and 10 months post-hospital discharge.
• Repeated measures analyses of covariance were used to compare experimental and control groups.

Main Results:

• Experimental patients reported lower state anxiety before their first visit.
• The first cardiologist visit was shorter for the experimental group, but the third visit was longer.
• Control patients demonstrated greater CAD knowledge at the first and third visits.
• Patients found the checklist useful initially, but its value decreased over time.

Conclusions:

• The FAQ checklist reduced pre-visit anxiety and shortened the initial visit but did not enhance long-term CAD knowledge.
• The checklist's utility diminished with repeated use, suggesting it may not be sufficiently stimulating for ongoing preparation.
• Further research is needed to draw conclusions about long-term effects due to potential statistical limitations.