The effect of education and counselling on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about responses to acute myocardial infarction symptoms

• Published in: European journal of cardiovascular nursing : journal of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing of the European Society of Cardiology Vol. 6; no. 2; p. 105
• Main Authors: Buckley, T, McKinley, S, Gallagher, R, Dracup, K, Moser, D K, Aitken, L M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Analysis of Variance; Coronary Disease - complications; Counseling - organization & administration; Educational Measurement; Emergency Medical Services - statistics & numerical data; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Models, Psychological; Myocardial Infarction - etiology; Myocardial Infarction - prevention & control; Myocardial Infarction - psychology; New South Wales; Nursing Education Research; Nursing Methodology Research; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Patient Education as Topic - organization & administration; Self Care - methods; Self Care - psychology; Single-Blind Method; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1474-5151
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2006.05.005

The time that elapses from the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to treatment has a significant effect on mortality and morbidity. This study reports the effectiveness of an education and counselling intervention on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about AMI symptoms and the appropriate response to symptoms. The intervention was tested in a randomised controlled trial of 200 people with a history of coronary heart disease (CHD). The groups were equivalent at baseline on study outcomes, clinical history and sociodemographic characteristics with the exception of more women in the intervention group (38% vs. 24%). The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that the intervention resulted in improved knowledge of CHD, AMI symptoms and the appropriate response to symptoms that was sustained to 12 months (p=0.02). There were no differences between groups' attitudes and beliefs over time. It is concluded that a short individual teaching and counselling intervention resulted in improved knowledge of CHD, AMI symptoms and the appropriate response to symptoms in people at risk of AMI sustained to 12 months.