Effects of Face-to-face Health-belief Oriented Eduation about Risk Factors on Knowledge and Attitude of Myocardial Infarction Patients after Discharge

Most risk factors for cardio-vascular diseases are related to behavior and knowledge. Educational programs are essential for changing the patient's lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the effects of face-to-face training about risk factors based on health belief model on knowledge and attitude of myocardial infarction patients after discharge. This was a quasi-experimental study. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to either intervention or control group. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. Educational contents were designed in a health belief model frame based on the collected data and educational needs. Each patient in the intervention group received face-to-face training individually and the control group received the routine hospital method. Finally, data were analyzed using Chi-square, paired t –test, and independent T-test. Study results showed that there were no significant differences between mean score of knowledge and attitudes in the two groups before the intervention (p> 0.05). However, after the intervention, knowledge and attitude scores in the intervention group (31.02±1.4,105.9±5.96) and the control group (51.86± 5.96, 16.92±1.4) showed a significant difference in every dimension of the model (p<0.05). Study results indicate the importance of using appropriate preventive models in active education, which helps prevent recurrent problems in patients with myocardial infarction.