Individualized education focusing on self-management improved the knowledge and self-management behaviour of elderly people with atrial fibrillation: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim

This study examined the effect of an individualized educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes and self-management ability after 12 weeks for outpatients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods

A randomized control-group pretest-post-test experimental design was used. Elderly outpatients with atrial fibrillation aged over 65 years were recruited from a university hospital in Korea. The experimental group received a 50-min individualized education on self-management, one telephone counselling after 8 weeks and maintenance of a self-management diary for 12 weeks. Data were collected from November 2017 to April 2018 and analysed using SPSS 22.0 for descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing.

Results

The participants' mean age was 71.9 (4.6) years. Compared to the control group (n = 29), the experimental group (n = 31) showed a significantly greater improvement in knowledge regarding atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention (t = −2.27, p = .027) and self-management behaviours (t = −8.02, p < .001). There were no significant group differences in attitudes towards atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that education for elderly people with atrial fibrillation should be individualized, focusing on self-management in daily life to prevent cardiovascular complications. Future research is needed to confirm the long-term effects of such education programmes.