The effect of web-based education delivered as part of cardiac rehabilitation on healthy lifestyle behaviors, and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease in Turkey: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of web-based education delivered as part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on healthy lifestyle behaviors, and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Turkey. METHOD: This study is a randomized controlled trial. The experimental group (n = 35) received web-based education and telephone counseling for 12 weeks after discharge, while the control group (n = 35) received standard care. RESULTS: Post-test healthy lifestyle behaviors scale total score and total scores of all sub-dimensions except nutrition were higher in the experimental group (p < 0.05). The post-test international physical activity total score, and VAS scale scores of the experimental group and were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The number of non-smoking patients in the post-test was statistically significantly higher in the experimental group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that web-based education delivered as part of CR in a Turkish hospital improved healthy lifestyle behaviors, physical activity level, and quality of life in CAD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our study proved that web-based education delivered as part of CR, nurse follow-up, and telephone counseling services may be effective tools for CAD patients to adhere to healthy lifestyle behaviors, and to promote quality of life and smoking cessation.

Inr tracking with face-to-face and phone app.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic window. Maintaining the patient's international normalized ratio (INR) within a predefined therapeutic range is one of the main challenges of warfarin treatment. This study aimed to compare the INR values of patients followed by face-to-face and telephone applications. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Twelve patients living in a distant place were assigned to the experimental group, and 12 patients living nearby and followed-up in the outpatient clinic were assigned to the control group. A Patient Information Form and the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics except for age (P > .05). The INR values of 67% of the patients followed in the outpatient clinic and 72% of the patients followed with the application were in the therapeutic range. There was no significant difference between the groups and medication adherence was high in both groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: In light of the findings of our study, which demonstrated that the INR levels of patients who were monitored both face-to-face and via a telephone application were within the same therapeutic range, it was concluded that the telephone application can be used to manage warfarin therapy.

Relationship Between Preoperative Anxiety and Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is a form of arrhythmia that frequently occurs after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Psychological factors may be involved in the development of atrial fibrillation, although the specific effect of anxiety remains unclear. PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative anxiety levels and atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: This descriptive design study recruited a sample of 126 patients. The data were collected by the researcher using a patient information form and the State-Trait Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation developed in 26.5% of the sample. Those who developed atrial fibrillation had a mean trait anxiety scale score of 40.2 ± 7.8, which is statistically significant. According to the results of logistic regression, it was observed that increased trait anxiety score, increased age, presence of comorbid disease, and noncompliance with respiratory physiotherapy increased the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Preoperative anxiety levels were shown to be a significant factor promoting the development of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The results support measuring anxiety levels in patients as a standard procedure before performing this surgical procedure.