Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal

Background and Objectives: Heart disease a major cause of disability. Adherence improvement is considered as one of the most important tasks of nurses. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a family-centered educational program on adherence to an exercise program among patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

Material and Methods: In this clinical trial 112 patients were selected from the ICU open heart of an educational hospital. The patients who had undergone elective heart surgery and had no mental illness were randomly divided into two groups. A family–centered educational program was implemented in the experimental group patients. Patients in the control group received routine care. Data were gathered using a questionnaire including demographic and compliance of exercise program questions before and eight weeks after the intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed in the SPSS 18. Using Chi squared and t-test statistic tests.

Results: Data analysis revealed that there were no significant differences between the patients’ compliance in both groups before the intervention (P>0.05). After the intervention, all dimensions of the compliance differed significantly between both groups (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The family–centered educational program was practically feasible for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. It improved the compliance of exercise program in patients.