Objective: This research aimed to determine how a 12-week PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based intervention affected fatigue in patients with coronary heart disease.
Methods: This cluster randomized controlled trial recruited participants diagnosed with coronary heart disease at 2 community health centers in China. Participants in the control group (n = 36) received routine health education, whereas those in the intervention group (n = 38) were given a 12-week PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based intervention and routine health education. The intervention consisted of 6 training sessions on coronary heart disease, fatigue, fatigue management, self-management skills and social support. A primary outcome (fatigue) and 4 secondary outcomes (knowledge of fatigue, self-management, quality of life and body mass index) were assessed using the Fatigue Scale-14, Fatigue Cognitive Questionnaire for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease, Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Scale, Chinese Cardiovascular Questionnaire of Quality of Life, and electronic weighing scale, respectively. Data were collected 3 times over 12 weeks.
Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in the level of fatigue (8.72 vs 7.06, P < .001), knowledge of fatigue (P < .001), self-management skills (P < .001), and quality of life (P < .001). However, there was no significant difference in body mass index between the 2 groups (P = .504).
Conclusions: The findings suggest that a well-designed intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model could alleviate fatigue symptoms and increase knowledge of fatigue, self-management skills and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease.
Keywords: coronary heart disease; fatigue; quality of life; self-management.