The Effect of Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Perceived Barriers, Referral Status, and Adherence to the Coronary Rehabilitation Ward Program in Shahid Chamran Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most important cause of death and reduce quality of life (QOL). Rehabilitation services promote health in these patients; however, their usage status is not desirable. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of educational intervention on patient's knowledge, perceived barriers, and referral status of the coronary heart diseases rehabilitation ward of Shahid Chamran Hospital in Isfahan, Iran.
This quasi-experimental intervention study was performed on 69 cardiac patients (intervention group = 35 individuals, control group = 34 individuals) referring to Shahid Chamran Hospital of Isfahan in 2013. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire approved by the experts. The intervention group received face-to-face educational intervention, pamphlet, film, power-point slides, and telephone calls. The referral status and number of referrals to the rehabilitation program was investigated through telephone follow-up and reviewing the list of clients 2 months after the first referral. Data were analyzed using relevant statistical tests in SPSS software. The significant level was considered as 0.05.
Findings: The mean age of the intervention and control group participants was 58.57 ± 2.1 and 55.94 ± 1.8 years, respectively. The results showed a significant increase in knowledge (P Educational intervention program aimed at increasing cardiac patients’ awareness regarding the benefits of rehabilitation programs and decreasing their perceived barriers increased their adherence to the rehabilitation program.