Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal

Background and Objectives: Self-care training is an important issue among patients. The aim of this study was to assess the educational needs for self-care training among patients with coronary artery disease. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 patients were recruited from the Shahid Mohamadi hospital in Bandar Abbas in 2011. Data were collected using a 22-item questionnaire including demographic characteristics and needs assessment items (four dimensions) in a Likert-type scale. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using the content validity and the Cronbach's alpha (0.81). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and one-way ANOVA tests with 95% confidence coefficient. Results: The results showed that of 18% (36) of patients were the least. The educational needs were moderate in 44% (88) of patients and high in 38% (76) of the patients. The most educational items in the dimensions of cardiac disease, activity and rest, cardiovascular drugs and diet were the symptoms of cardiac disease 82% (164), exercising program 90% (180), medications 76% (152) and limitation of food supply 76% (152), respectively. There was a significant relationship between the educational needs and the literacy levels (P=0.04). Conclusion: The findings showed that most of the patients had moderate to high educational needs about the cardiac diseases and its conditions. It is necessity to provide educational programs based on the need assessments, especially in patients with low literacy.