Efficacy of health education efforts in hospitalized patients with serious cardiovascular illness: can teaching succeed?

This investigation was designed to assess the effectiveness of a team approach to education for hospitalized patients with serious cardiovascular illnesses. No significant immediate increases in knowledge resulted from the educational program regardless of the patient's previous educational achievements. Modest, late posthospital gains were seen. The investigators question whether the anxiety associated with hospitalization for cardiac surgery or other acute life-threatening events may render ineffective educational efforts undertaken at times of physical and psychological stress.