Continuous Care Model and the Self-Management in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Self-management after myocardial infarction is fundamental to effective medical treatment. Objectives The current study aimed to investigate the effects of applying the continuous care model on self-management of a sample of Iranian patients with post-myocardial infarction. Methods Sixty hospitalized patients were randomly allocated into control (n = 30) and intervention (n = 30) groups. Before the intervention and at the end of it, self-management of both groups was evaluated by chronic disease self-management questionnaire. The continuous care model was performed for the intervention group for three months. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. In addition to descriptive statistical tests, Chi-square, the exact Fisher, Willcoxon and Mann-Whitney, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests were used. The significant level was set at P < 0.05. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of sub-dimensions of self-management scores before the intervention (P > 0.05). At the end of the intervention, in all self-management sub-dimensions expect for shortness of breath, the status of intervention group improved significantly more than that of the control group (P < 0.005). Moreover, mean of changes in all sub-dimensions of self-management showed no significant difference, but fatigue and health care utilization between the two groups had significant difference. Conclusions The continuous care model can be considered as a useful tool to improve patients’ self-management after myocardial infarction.