THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN IMPROVING ADHERENCE TO THERAPY AND MODIFICATION OF RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY INTERVENTION
Keywords:
risk factors, adherence, nurse, acute coronary syndromeAbstract
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and percutaneous coronary intervention significantly improves patient outcomes. However, long-term success of treatment largely depends on adherence to prescribed therapy and effective risk factor modification. In this context, the nurse plays a key role in the ongoing care of the patient.
Objective: This study was designed as a descriptive-analytical, prospective study to investigate the role of the nurse in improving adherence to therapy and risk factor modification in patients with ACS after coronary intervention.
Materials and methods: A total of 60 patients with diagnosed acute coronary syndrome, treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), hospitalized in a cardiology department for a period of three to six months were included in the study. The study included interventions by the nurse (therapy education, risk factor modification counseling). Data were collected with an appropriate questionnaire and documented medical documentation. All data were processed with statistical tests.
Results: Of the total, 65% were male, with an average age of 58±10 years, of which 70% had arterial hypertension, 45% diabetes mellitus type 2 and 50% were cigarette smokers. After the nursing intervention, adherence to therapy was 78% with high adherence, moderate with 15% and low with 7%. These results showed a significant improvement compared to the initial state, where adherence was significantly lower (around 50% according to the literature). After 3 months, 60% had stopped smoking cigarettes, 55% had improved their diet, 50% had increased physical activity, with a significant decrease in BMI and blood pressure. And only 10% of the patients needed re-hospitalization, a significant decrease compared to the expected outcome.
Conclusion: The conclusion indicates that an integrated approach with active involvement of the nurse significantly improves adherence to therapy and reduces recurrent cardiovascular events. Therefore, it is necessary to further strengthen the role of nurses in the multidisciplinary team in order to improve the quality of health care and outcomes in these patients.
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