Patients’ Experiences of Cardiovascular Health Education and Risk Communication: A Qualitative Synthesis

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has no cure and patients with myocardial infarction are at high risk for further cardiac events. Health education is a key driver for patients' understanding and motivation for lifestyle change, but little is known about patients' experience of such education. In this review, we aimed to explore how patients with CHD experience health education and in particular risk communication.A total of 2221 articles were identified through a systematic search in five databases. 40 articles were included and synthesized by using thematic analysis. Findings show that both 'what' was communicated, and 'the way' it was communicated, had the potential to influence patients' engagement with lifestyle changes. Communication about the potential of lifestyle change to reduce future risk were largely missing causing uncertainty, anxiety and for some disengagement with lifestyle change.Recommendations for ways to improve health education and risk communication are discussed to inform international practice.Qualitative Health Research preferences towards incorporating cardiopulmonary resuscitation training: A qualitative study.

Perceptions of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention on pre‐operative education in China: A qualitative study

“…As mentioned by a few participants, contradiction encumbered the practice of pre‐operative education. It has been reported that the confusing and conflicting information from different professionals in pre‐operative education made patients anxious and lost, which resulted in non‐adherence to the requirements before PCI and the failure of the education 53,57 . As evidenced by this study, threatening words is shown to be another obstacle to the delivery of pre‐operative education.…”

“…Plain language was another facilitator for the pre‐operative education of all patients undergoing PCI, which has been demonstrated in other research. Mentrup 53 found in his qualitative synthesis study that participants wanted health information to be provided in an easy‐to‐understand language rather than complex medical terms. Svavarsdottir et al 54 suggested that patients undergoing PCI prefer health education be delivered in lay language.…”

“…As evidenced by this study, threatening words is shown to be another obstacle to the delivery of pre‐operative education. These words about risk information might frighten cardiac patients and contribute to their depression and anxiety 53 . However, Svavarsdóttir`s research indicates that patients hope the educator will conduct patient education in a strict and harsh way 54 .…”

“…This is possibly because health professionals and patients understand ‘risk’ in different ways; health professionals typically approach risk analytically by focusing on evidence, while patients may perceive risk based on personal experience and associational meanings 58 . There is not any satisfactorily ‘correct’ way to talk about risk information in patient education, and health professionals face a series of dilemmas in their communications with coronary heart disease patients, calling for a willingness to hear the patient narrative and consider cultural difference 53 . Confucianism stresses the maintenance of harmony and the threatening words might induce conflict between health professionals and patients 43 .…”

Educação em saúde na atenção primária: as abordagens e estratégias contempladas nas políticas públicas de saúde

“…Essa ideia é corroborada por Mentrup et al 15 , que analisaram estudos com abordagens preventivas baseadas nas mudanças de estilo de vida por meio da perspectiva de indivíduos com doenças cardiovasculares. Os autores concluíram que as abordagens focadas em informação sobre os riscos futuros são insuficientes, muitas vezes geram incerteza, ansiedade e desencorajam a mudança de comportamento.…”