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Nurse-Led Secondary Prevention in Coronary Heart Disease

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Nurse-Led Secondary Prevention in Coronary Heart Disease program helps improve secondary prevention among patients with coronary heart disease. Patients with a working diagnosis of coronary heart disease are qualified for the program. Through the program nurse-run clinics in general practices promote medical and lifestyle aspects of secondary prevention and offer regular follow-up. Participants visit the clinics every two to six months where they receive one-on-one counseling, receive personalized feedback, set goals, and an develop an action plan. Visits cover topics including symptom control, blood pressure and lipid management, drug treatment, and behavioral risk factors including exercise, diet, and smoking. Participants are offered dietary advice through "One Step at a Time" leaflets, and encouraged to participate in "Stepping Out" walking programs to promote physical activity.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this nurse-led program is to improve secondary prevention among patients with coronary heart disease.

Results / Accomplishments

The nurse-led prevention program participants were compared to a control group using a randomized controlled trial. After one year, the intervention group had significantly greater improvements than the control group in aspirin management (11.7% increase vs. 3.2%), blood pressure management (9.8% increase vs. 0.2%), lipid management (29.2% increase vs. 7.8%), physical activity (4.4% increase vs. 1.1% decrease), and low fat diet (7.5% increase vs. 0%). The intervention group also scored significantly better in five out of eight domains on the Short Form-34 health survey questionnaire.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Foresterhill Health Center Department of General Practice and Primary Care
Primary Contact
University of Aberdeen
King's College,
Aberdeen,
AB24 3FX
+44 (0)1224 272000
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/capc/
Topics
Health / Heart Disease & Stroke
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Foresterhill Health Center Department of General Practice and Primary Care
Source
Heart
Date of publication
1998
Date of implementation
1994
Location
Scotland
For more details
Target Audience
Adults
Nevada Tomorrow