Learning needs of Chinese patients before undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

This study aimed to determine the learning needs of Chinese patients going for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in order to design nurse-led education programs. A self-administered survey was completed by a total of 395 patients prior to the procedure. Face-to-face communication was chosen by 343 (86.8%) patients as the most preferred way of education. Doctor-in-charge was ranked as the most wanted educator by 372 (94.2%) patients, including 191 (45.4%) patients who chose both doctor-in-charge and nurse-in-charge. Interventional cardiologist was preferred by patients with higher education more than those with lower education (63.6 vs. 48.1%, P < 0.05). Learning items such as self-rescue on heart attack, efficiency of PCI and post-procedural medication were regarded as the most important, which could be affected by age, gender and educational level. These findings would help to develop patient preferred programs that involve brief communications with doctors and more structured education activities led by nurses.