Heart Disease, Now What? Improving Quality of Life through Education.

INTRODUCTION

The management of chronic illness assumes a level of demand for permanent care and reaches a priority dimension in the health context. Given the importance of nursing care to post-acute coronary syndrome patients, the objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention program on quality of life in patients after acute coronary syndrome.

METHOD

Quasi-experimental study with two groups: an experimental group exposed to the educational intervention program and the control group without exposure to the educational intervention program.

RESULTS

The results showed statistically significant differences between both groups ( < 0.001). Although only valid for the specific group of subjects studied, the educational intervention program enabled significant gains in quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the findings of the study, a systematized and structured educational program, integrated into the care organization and based on transition processes, is effective in developing self-care skills and improves the quality of life in patients after acute coronary syndrome.