Key result
Patient-reported receipt of risk factor management information from nurses (14-23%) was substantially lower than from physicians (55-71%) among patients with established coronary heart disease.
Why the study?
What is the contribution of nursing to risk factor management education as perceived by patients with established coronary heart disease?
Cross-Sectional (n=357)
Yes
What is the contribution of nursing to risk factor management education as perceived by patients with established coronary heart disease?
Many patients with established CHD do not recall receiving risk factor management education, and the perceived contribution of nurses to this education is small compared to physicians.
CHD patients report low nurse-provided risk factor education; hypothesis-generating for expanded nursing roles in secondary prevention.
BACKGROUND: Guidelines stress the importance of risk factor management in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). AIMS: To evaluate whether guidelines on patient education in risk factor management are followed in clinical practice and to assess the contribution of nursing to risk factor management as perceived by patients with established CHD. METHODS: Within three Dutch hospitals consecutive patients were identified after a first coronary-artery bypass graft, a first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction or ischaemia (n=357). Data were collected through patient interviews at least 6 months after hospital admission. RESULTS: Among smokers, overweight patients, patients with hypertension, high cholesterol, and sedentary lifestyle, respectively 75, 36, 67, 61 and 49% reported that information on presence or management of these risk factors was provided. The proportion of patients informed by nurses ranged from 14% (lowering cholesterol) to 23% (increasing physical activity), while 55% (lowering cholesterol) to 71% (stop smoking) were informed by physicians. CONCLUSION: Many patients with established CHD and cardiovascular risk factors do not remember ever having received information about management of their risk factors. Clearly, there is a substantial potential to improve professionals' compliance to guidelines on risk factor management, including those on patient education. The perceived contribution of nurses to risk factor management is small compared to that of physicians and other caregivers. If risk factor management is felt to be a main responsibility of nurses, current nursing activities in this area should be reconsidered within an improved organisational structure.
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Reimer et al. (2002) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary Heart Disease (n=357). Patient education on risk factor management by nurses vs. Patient education by physicians was evaluated on Proportion of patients informed about risk factor management. Patient-reported receipt of risk factor management information from nurses (14-23%) was substantially lower than from physicians (55-71%) among patients with established coronary heart disease.