Effect of Self-determination Theory-based Discharge Program on Lifestyle and Readmission of Patients with Heart Failure: A Clinical Trial

Lifestyle and behaviors of human beings are major factors in cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, a discharge program based on Self-determination Theory could improve the lifestyle of the patients. This study aimed to determine the effect of this program on the lifestyle and readmission of patients with heart failure. This clinical trial was performed on 60 patients with heart attack in a city in north-east of Iran, during 2018-19. The participants were selected by convenience sampling method and divided randomly into intervention and control groups. Subsequently, the intervention group was subjected to a 12-week SDT-based discharge program. However, the control group received the routine program. The data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II questionnaire, and the readmission questionnaire. Moreover, the data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) using the Chi-square, independent t-test, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon. In total, 20.0% and 46.7% of the subjects in the intervention and control groups were re-hospitalized, respectively. The Chi-square showed a significant difference in this regard (P=0.028).The results also showed a significant increase in the lifestyle score of the patients at post-test stage, in the intervention group (164.6±16.9), compared to the control group (119.1±17.2) (P<0.001). Furthermore, the mean score of various lifestyle subscales significantly increased in the intervention group, compared to the control group, three months after discharge (P<0.01). Implications for Practice: The design and implementation of a SDT-based discharge program could be included in the nursing care program as an effective method to create and maintain health-promoting behaviors.