Is Knowledge Level of Coronary Heart Disease and Risk Factors Among Post-Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Patients
Mary T Nolan1, Gabrielle McKee
1Mary T. Nolan, MSc Clinical Nurse Manager, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.Gabrielle McKee, PhD Director of Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland.
Insights
Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) often have poor knowledge of coronary heart disease, unrelated to their risk factors. Targeted education is crucial post-PCI to improve awareness and encourage necessary lifestyle changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Patient Education
Background:
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common treatment for coronary heart disease.
- Shorter hospital stays post-PCI may hinder patients' understanding and adoption of lifestyle changes.
- High-risk factor burden is prevalent among post-PCI patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk factor profile of patients after PCI.
- To evaluate patients' knowledge of coronary heart disease.
- To determine the impact of demographic and risk factors on this knowledge.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, cross-sectional study involving post-PCI patients.
- Data collected via questionnaire on demographics, risk factors, and heart disease knowledge (Bergman Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire).
- Bivariate and multivariate analyses used to examine associations between factors and knowledge.
Main Results:
- A high burden of risk factors was observed in 66% of participants.
- Overall mean knowledge score was 51%, with lowest scores in medical and symptoms domains (46%).
- No significant influence of demographic or risk factors on knowledge was found; many believed heart disease was no longer a concern.
Conclusions:
- Post-PCI patients exhibit a high-risk factor profile but possess inadequate and unrelated knowledge.
- Low knowledge levels, short hospital stays, and poor cardiac rehabilitation attendance highlight a need for targeted education.
- Innovations in patient education pre-discharge are essential to improve knowledge and initiate behavioral changes for lifestyle modification.
Background:
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is now commonly used in the treatment of coronary heart disease. However, shorter hospital stays after intervention may affect patients' knowledge and subsequent required lifestyle changes.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to investigate participants' risk factor profile, knowledge of coronary heart disease, and the influence of demographic and risk factors on this knowledge.
Methods:
This prospective, cross-sectional 1-site study recruited both elective and emergency PCI patients postdischarge. The questionnaire collected data on demographics, risk factor profile, and coronary heart disease knowledge as measured on the Bergman Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the influence of 11 risk and sociodemographic factors on knowledge.
Results:
The response rate was 67% (n = 84). The sample was mostly male and aged 65.79 ± 9.9 years, and 59% had an elective PCI. Risk factor burden was high; 2 or more risk factors were seen in 66% of participants. Mean knowledge score overall was 51%, with the highest score achieved in the risk factor domain (61%). Lowest scores were in the medical and symptoms domains (both 46%). Neither the bivariate nor the multivariate analyses were significant. A large proportion of patients believed that coronary heart disease was no longer a concern for them after PCI.
Conclusions:
As expected, the risk factor profile of post-PCI patients was high. However, their knowledge levels and awareness were unrelated to risk factor profile and poor in comparison with studies in other cardiac patients. This, in addition to the short stay in hospital and the low attendance of this cohort at cardiac rehabilitation, identifies this group of patients as a priority for further targeted education. Innovations are needed to increase knowledge and begin behavioral change predischarge after PCI. This should include target and goal setting for lifestyle change to avail of this critical education opportunity.
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