Impact of Family-Centered Orientation Program on Hemodynamic Indices and Hospitalization Duration in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background: Hospitalization in cardiac care unit (CCU) results in much anxiety followed by changes in hemodynamic indices in most patients. The accompanying family members play an important role in patient’s care and support. Therefore, the current study was performed to determine the impact of family-based training programs on hemodynamic indices and duration of hospitalization for patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: The population of this  clinical trial study consists of patients with coronary artery disease hospitalized in CCU of an educational hospital in Zanjan, Iran in 2013. Eighty patients were selected through convenience sampling method, and were randomly assigned into the two groups of intervention and control. The family-based training program for the intervention group was executed as three 40-60 min sessions of face-to-face meeting with the patients and the core accompanying family member. Mean hemodynamic indices of the patients including systolic and diastolic blood pressures, average arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were measured and recorded on days one to four of the hospitalization based on the hospitalization duration. Data analysis was performed by Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: Post-intervention, the hemodynamic indices and hospitalization duration were lower in the intervention group compared to the controls. However, this difference was significant for heart rate (P<0.001), respiratory rate (P=0.002), and hospitalization duration (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Family-based training programs are recommended as a cost-benefit method in CCU.