title: A longitudinal study on the information needs and preferences of patients after an acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: Research has shown that the provision of pertinent health information to patients with cardiovascular disease is associated with better adherence to medical prescriptions, behavioral changes, and enhanced perception of control over the disease. Yet there is no clear knowledge on how to improve information pertinence. Identifying and meeting the information needs of patients and their preferences for sources of information is pivotal to developing patient-led services. This prospective, observational study was aimed at exploring the information needs and perceived relevance of different information sources for patients during the twenty-four months following an acute coronary syndrome.
  
  
  
  Two hundred and seventeen newly diagnosed patients with acute coronary syndrome were enrolled in the study. The patients were primarily men (83.41 %) with a mean age of 57.28 years (range 35-75; SD = 7.98). Patients' needs for information and the perceived relevance of information sources were evaluated between 2 and 8 weeks after hospitalization (baseline) and during three follow-ups at 6, 12 and 24 months after baseline. Repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc tests and Cochran's Q Test were performed to test differences in variables of interest over time.
  
  
  
  Results showed a reduction in information needs, but this decrease was significant only for topics related to daily activities, behavioral habits, risk and complication. At baseline, the primary sources of information were specialists and general practitioners, followed by family members and information leaflets given by physicians. Relevance of other sources changed differently over time.
  
  
  
  The present longitudinal study is an original contribution to the investigation of changes in information needs and preferences for sources of information among patients who are diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. One of the main results of this study is that information on self-disease management is perceived as a minor theme for patients even two years after the event. Knowledge on how patients' information needs and perceived relevance of information sources change over time could enhance the quality of chronic disease management, leading health-care systems to move toward more patient-tailored care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy. e.cappelletti4@campus.unimib.it.
authors.forename: Erika Rosa
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monzani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pancani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Addario
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Magrin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglioretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scrignaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero, Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fattirolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steca
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D058005:General Practitioners; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057240:Patient Preference; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Cardiovascular disease; Health information sources; Information needs; Longitudinal research