Do Illness Perception Predict Perceived Learning Needs Among Patients Treated With Percutaneous Coronary...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Health Psychology
• Patient Education

Background:

• Increasing rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary heart disease (CHD).
• Need to evaluate illness perception (IP) in PCI patients.
• Limited understanding of IP's predictive role in perceived learning needs post-PCI.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess illness perception (IP) in PCI patients.
• Examine the influence of IP on perceived learning needs after PCI.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• 208 first-time PCI patients surveyed before hospital discharge.
• Utilized Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and PCI Learning Need Scale.

Main Results:

• Patients reported high concern, perceived consequences, and symptoms of CHD.
• Low perceived personal and treatment control over illness.
• High perceived learning needs were reported.
• Low personal control (P < .037), treatment control (P < .041), and high symptom perception (P < .018) predicted high learning needs.

Conclusions:

• Illness perception significantly influences perceived learning needs in PCI patients.
• Routine clinical assessment of IP is recommended.
• Tailored health education programs should target patients with low control and high symptom perception.