Int J Nurs Pract. 2021 Mar 4:e12902. doi: 10.1111/ijn.12902. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This study examined the effect of an individualized educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes and self-management ability after 12 weeks for outpatients with atrial fibrillation.
METHODS: A randomized control-group pretest-post-test experimental design was used. Elderly outpatients with atrial fibrillation aged over 65 years were recruited from a university hospital in Korea. The experimental group received a 50-min individualized education on self-management, one telephone counselling after 8 weeks and maintenance of a self-management diary for 12 weeks. Data were collected from November 2017 to April 2018 and analysed using SPSS 22.0 for descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing.
RESULTS: The participants’ mean age was 71.9 (4.6) years. Compared to the control group (n = 29), the experimental group (n = 31) showed a significantly greater improvement in knowledge regarding atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention (t = -2.27, p = .027) and self-management behaviours (t = -8.02, p < .001). There were no significant group differences in attitudes towards atrial fibrillation.
CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that education for elderly people with atrial fibrillation should be individualized, focusing on self-management in daily life to prevent cardiovascular complications. Future research is needed to confirm the long-term effects of such education programmes.
PMID:33660379 | DOI:10.1111/ijn.12902
