The Effect of Nursing Continuous Care on Self-Management in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Self-management is considered an important factor for change of behavior and health care to reduce disability in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Continuous care model (CCM) is a plan that improves knowledge, practice, and attitude of patients toward health care. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CCM on self-management in patients with MI.

This study was a controlled trial conducted on patients with MI, admitted to cardiac care units in one of the eastern cities of Iran. 82 eligible patients were selected and randomly assigned into two groups of CCM and control. In the intervention group, 4 to 6 educational sessions (1 to 2 hours) with a follow up period were conducted. The mean score of self-management was assessed in both groups at the beginning of the study, after training and after follow-up of the model.

Mean score of self-management significantly decreased in both intervention and control groups immediately after the implementation of CCM and follow up of the study (P < 0.001). Considering that in the questionnaire, the lower score indicates a better situation, there was a significant difference between the two groups at different times regarding self-management score. After the study, the self-management score in the follow-up care group was significantly lower than that of the control group.

Implementation of CCM is recommended to improve self-management skills in patients with MI, and further studies are needed in other chronic patients.