Effect of an educational program on nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding myocardial infarction management at Al-Thawra Hospital, Sana’a, Yemen

Background Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Nurses in critical care settings play a key role in the early recognition and management of MI. This study evaluated effect of an educational program on nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding MI management at Al-Thawra Hospital, Sana’a, Yemen. Methods A pre-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design was employed. Census sampling was used to invite all eligible nurses working in the Emergency Intensive Care Unit (ERICU) and Medical Coronary Care Unit (MCCU). Of 54 nurses initially identified, six participated in the pilot study and one did not meet the eligibility criteria; therefore, 47 nurses were included in the main study. Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire and an observational clinical practice checklist. Pretest and posttest scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while Bowker’s test of symmetry assessed changes in categorical knowledge and clinical practice levels. Results Significant improvements were observed in all assessed outcomes. The median general knowledge score increased from 39 to 48 (Z = − 5.674, p < 0.001, r = 0.83), and the median specific MI knowledge score increased from 33 to 42 (Z = − 5.257, p < 0.001, r = 0.77). Significant changes were observed in general and specific knowledge levels (χ² = 25.108 and 20.063, respectively; both p < 0.001). At posttest, 39 nurses had high general knowledge and 33 had high specific knowledge. The median clinical practice score increased from 139 to 171 (Z = − 5.969, p < 0.001, r = 0.87), with a significant change in clinical practice levels (χ² = 30.000, p < 0.001). Conclusion The educational program was associated with significant improvements in nurses’ knowledge and clinical practice regarding MI management. Regular continuing education supported by standardized, evidence-based protocols may strengthen nurses’ competencies in critical care. Further controlled or randomized studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to assess the sustainability of these improvements.