Jordanian acute coronary syndrome patients' learning needs: Implications for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs

The identification of patients' learning needs is an essential step for nurses in order to facilitate the recovery of acute coronary syndrome survivors. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the actual learning needs of these patients and to explore the differences in learning needs on the basis of sociodemographic and clinical variables. Descriptive comparative design was used, and patients' learning needs data were collected through the Patient Learning Needs Scale. The results showed that patients need a high amount of information after this syndrome. The 10 most needed educational topics belonged to the medications and treatment and activities of daily living categories. Older patients and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds requested less information than others did. In conclusion, topics perceived by patients as important and sociodemographic variables should be considered in preparing and providing cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs. Furthermore, these programs should be redesigned considering patients' actual learning needs rather than the expected needs, and they should incorporate medications, treatment and activities of daily living, complications and symptoms, illness-related concerns, and support in the community.