title: Evaluation of a standardized patient education program for inpatient cardiac rehabilitation: impact on illness knowledge and self-management behaviors up to 1 year.
abstract: Patient education is an essential part of the treatment of coronary heart disease in cardiac rehabilitation. In Germany, no standardized and evaluated patient education programs for coronary heart disease have been available so far. In this article, we report the evaluation of a patient-oriented program. A multicenter quasi-experimental, sequential cohort design study of patients with coronary heart disease (n = 434) in inpatient cardiac rehabilitation was conducted. Intervention patients received the new patient-oriented program, control patients a traditional lecture-based program (usual care). Primary outcome illness knowledge and secondary behavioral and health outcomes were assessed at admission, discharge and 6- and 12-months follow-up. We found a significant, small between-group intervention effect in both patients' medical illness and treatment knowledge and behavior change knowledge at discharge (medical: η(2) = 0.013; behavior change: η(2) = 0.011) and after 12 months (medical: η(2) = 0.015). Furthermore, a significant, small effect was observed for physical activity after 12 months (η(2) = 0.011), but no effects on healthy diet and medication adherence emerged. Superiority of the patient-oriented educational program for patients with coronary heart disease was partially confirmed. The program produced improved illness knowledge and physical activity compared with usual care after 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical Sociology, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany, Rehabilitation Center Bayerisch Gmain, D-83457 Bayerisch Gmain, Germany, Rehabilitation Hospital Höhenried, D-82347 Bernried, Germany, Curschmann Klinik, Rehabilitation Hospital, D-23669 Timmendorfer Strand, Germany and Department Rehabilitation, German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme, D-10709 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seekatz
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mosler
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwaab
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Worringen
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Faller
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*