Determination of predischarge learning needs of patients with myocardial infarction

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the predischarge learning needs and influencing factors of patients with myocardial infarction. Patients and methods: The study included 190 MI patients (156 males, 34 females; mean age: 60.2±12.7 years; range, 21 to 85 years) admitted with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction between February 2021 and February 2022. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic/Clinical Characteristics Form and the Turkish version of the Cardiac Patients' Learning Needs Inventory. Results: The patients' symptom management, physical activity, anatomy and physiology of the heart, diet, psychological factors, lifestyle, and the mean total score on the scale were 27.45±2.64, 22.82±3.53, 20.56±3.15, 19.92±3.19, 15.45±2.81, 12.38±1.95, 155.21±17.11 points, respectively. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference in the general education need levels of the patients according to their education status, marital status, working status, exercise habit, cohabitants, additional chronic diseases, and history of heart attack/angiography and seeking information about heart attacks (p<0.05). Conclusion: Predischarge learning needs levels of patients with myocardial infarction were relatively high. The primary learning need was for symptom management. Patients' learning needs levels varied according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.