Secondary prevention and learning needs post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): perspectives of both patients and nurses

Aims and objectives. To evaluate the learning needs of patients post percutaneous coronary intervention from the perspective of both patients’ and cardiac nurses’. Background. Increasing numbers of patients with cardiovascular disease are managed using postpercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. This paper presents findings of a study which explored the cardiac learning needs of these patients. Design. Descriptive survey from one cardiac unit where approximately 30 post percutaneous coronary intervention were performed per month. Methods. Self‐report data were provided by patients using an adaptation of the Nursing Information and Support scale for health‐related quality of life informational needs. This scale includes physical, psychosocial, emotional and disease‐specific dimensions. The questionnaire was also provided to cardiac nurses. Statistical tests applied were Spearman’s Correlation and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results. Patients (n = 33) and nurses (n = 13) completed the questionnaire. Disease‐specific items, physical action, psychosocial and emotional information were the categories that patients found most important. Cardiac nurses perceived physical action as least important and focused more on psychosocial and emotional issues. Individual items revealed the patients particularly valued their interaction with the nurses. Conclusions. Patients appear to be more concerned with their immediate state and disease rather than their psychosocial or emotional state. Mean rankings within scales demonstrate the value patients place on the nurse–patient relationship and the time needed for this. Relevance to clinical practice. Findings may be helpful to nurses who wish to addresses secondary prevention issues with patients’ post percutaneous coronary intervention who experience short hospital stays.