In spite of the broad recognition of the importance of health education, time for structured one-to -one initiatives of health education during the hospital stay is limited. The organization of an health education meeting for patients admitted to CCU for an acute coronary event is described.
Methods: The planning and implementation of the initiative lasted two years and involved 7 nurses and one doctor. The organization required efforts related to the event itself (preparation of training aids, identification or contents and methods for delivery) but also organizative changes. Dietitians in fact had to be involved because the healthy diet recommended was different from the hospital diet. The assessment of the effectiveness of the health education was also planned: administration of a questionnaire to explore lifestyles and knowledge of the illness before and after the meeting; phone interviews after 3, 6 and 12 months from the meeting.
Results: Since may 2003, in the first 3 years 74 meetings have been organised, involving 507 patients and 329 relatives. Each meeting lasts 2 hours and contents delivered encompass the coronary event, risk factors and their modification, healthy lifestyles. Initial preliminary results on the impact of the meeting on lifestyle changes are promising. Initiatives are ongoing to include this activity among officially recognised nursing activities.