Leap for Life: innovative patient education to optimize outcomes among patients with cardiovascular disease

To evaluate the Leap for Life cardiovascular risk factor education program based on outcome measurements of self-reported hospital readmission, goal achievement, satisfaction, and educational model preference.

Four hospitals and one senior center of Baylor Health Care System in the Dallas, Texas, area.

Administration of a satisfaction questionnaire and resurvey of participants by telephone at 3, 6, and 12 months.

161 patients with cardiovascular disease enrolled in the Leap for Life program during calendar year 1997. Patients were primarily male (59%), with an average age of 66 years; they had an average of 4 cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Of the 152 participants who took part in the telephone follow-up, 19% reported a hospital admission with a cardiovascular diagnosis during the 12-month follow-up period. Twenty-one percent reported meeting all of their goals; 56%, some of their goals; and 23%, none of their goals. All stated that the educational sessions met their informational needs, and 75% preferred the Leap for Life setting over other educational settings. CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS: These data provide initial validation of the program and are being used as a starting point for another assessment that involves individualized health enhancement measures and 6- and 12-month follow-up of participants using a survey designed to assess readiness, lifestyle changes, and quality of life.