Older women with a serious cardiac event experience support with a Vifladt & Hopen inspired patient group education programme.
BACKGROUND
Older women are less likely to be invited to access cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The Vifladt & Hopen model for patient education is aimed to strengthen the ability of patients with long-term illnesses to cope in everyday life.


OBJECTIVE
To examine how this model was experienced by older women (>70 years) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.


METHODS
A one-year follow-up of the education programme was conducted by means of focus group interviews (n=13). A qualitative descriptive design using content analysis was used.


RESULTS
Two main categories emerged: views on topics and matter, and views on form. Experiences of heart event, stress and anxiety were important topics. The women experienced advantages and benefits by meeting others in a similar situation.


CONCLUSIONS
A focus on knowledge exchange instead of knowledge transfer encourages talking about self-experienced needs. The women expressed the benefits of the education programme since the discussions emerged from themselves. For the health care professionals there are gains to be made from obtaining the women's point of view and learning more about their needs.
Hagberth
Vivika
V
Hospital Library, Lund University Hospital, SE-22185 Lund, Sweden. vivika.hagberth@skane.se
Sjöberg
Trygve
T
Ivarsson
Bodil
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013548:Sweden; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*