Effectiveness of Discharge Education on Self Efficacy among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with effective patient education on self-care post-discharge identified as a crucial component in managing the disease and improving patient outcomes. Despite the recognized importance, there is a gap in understanding the best approaches to discharge education and their impact on patient self-efficacy. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive discharge education program on enhancing self-efficacy among patients with CAD, compared to standard care. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted at the Multan Institute of Cardiology over a nine-month period, enrolling 70 participants with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), aged 30 and above. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group, which received a three-day comprehensive discharge education program, or the control group, which received standard care. The Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, with a content validity index of 0.91 and a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.743, was used to measure outcomes. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, employing paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests to assess within-group and between-group differences, respectively. Results: The intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in self-efficacy post-intervention, with the mean self-efficacy score improving from 31.29 ± 5.571 to 51.69 ± 6.641 (t = -15.197, p < 0.000). In contrast, the control group showed no significant change. The post-intervention self-efficacy scores significantly differed between the intervention and control groups (51.69 ± 6.641 vs. 30.77 ± 4.505, t = -15.42, p < 0.000). Conclusion: The comprehensive discharge education program significantly improved self-efficacy among CAD patients compared to standard care. This suggests that targeted discharge education should be an integral part of patient care to enhance self-management capabilities post-discharge.