A randomized controlled trial of an educational programme to improve self-care in Brazilian patients following...

To test an educational programme with telephone follow-up to improve self-care in Brazilian patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Percutaneous coronary intervention has been established as a treatment for coronary disease. However, additional intervention is needed to improve self-care for individuals who undergo this procedure to reduce further disease. Telephone follow-up is one strategy that has been used to improve chronic disease self-care.

Randomized controlled trial.

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01341093.

Sixty patients who were preparing for their first percutaneous coronary intervention between 2011-2012 were randomly allocated to an educational programme with telephone follow-up (N = 30) or a control group (N = 30). Perceived health status was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form. Self-efficacy, symptoms of anxiety and depression and medication adherence were also assessed. Measures were collected before intervention (baseline) and 6 months later.

Both groups improved from baseline to 6 months in the 'Physical Component Summary' and in the domains of 'Physical Functioning', 'Role-Emotional' and 'Role-Physical'. The educational programme group showed a reduction in anxiety from baseline to 6-month follow-up, while the control group showed a slight increase. No differences in symptoms in depression and self-efficacy were found and both groups reported high levels of medication adherence.

The educational programme with telephone follow-up is a promising intervention as it led to reduction in anxiety for those receiving the educational programme. Further improvements in timing and focus of the educational programme, such as targeting emotional and social lifestyle changes, might be warranted.