Readiness for Discharge from Hospital after Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Patient Education
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality.
• Effective patient education post-MI is vital for preventing recurrent events and reducing mortality.
• Understanding factors influencing patient readiness for discharge is essential for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient readiness for hospital discharge following myocardial infarction (MI).
• To examine the associations between readiness for discharge, illness acceptance, and socio-demographic/clinical factors.
• To identify patient groups with varying levels of readiness and acceptance.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design involving 102 patients hospitalized for MI post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
• Utilized the Readiness for Hospital Discharge After Myocardial Infarction Scale (RHD-MIS) and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS).
• Analyzed correlations between readiness, acceptance, and various patient characteristics.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of patients (47.06%) exhibited low readiness for hospital discharge.
• Higher readiness was associated with younger age, stable relationships, family support, higher education, and professional activity.
• Greater illness acceptance was observed in males, those in relationships, with family support, secondary education, and professional activity.
• A positive correlation was found between illness acceptance and readiness for discharge.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of MI patients demonstrate low readiness for discharge, highlighting a need for improved pre-discharge support.
• Socio-demographic and clinical factors play a role in both patient readiness and illness acceptance.
• Enhancing illness acceptance may positively influence patient readiness for transitioning home after MI.