Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a home communication intervention (HCI) for ischemic heart failure Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) patients ≥ 65 years of age on self-efficacy, coronary artery disease risk factor modification and functioning posthospitalization. Design: A randomized clinical trial with repeated measures was used. Sample: A subsample of ischemic heart failure CABG surgery patients (n = 35) was drawn from the parent study of 180 CABG patients. Results: HCI participants (n = 18) had significantly higher adjusted mean self-efficacy scores [F(1, 29) = 6.40, P < .05] and adjusted mean levels of functioning (physical, general health, mental, and vitality functioning) compared with the routine care group (n = 17), using repeated measures analysis of covariance with baseline scores as covariates. There were also significant effects of time on bodily pain and role emotional functioning. Significantly higher exercise adherence (t = 3.09, P < .01) and lower reported stress (t = 3.77, P < .01) at 3 months after surgery was reported by HCI subjects. Conclusions:Data from this pilot study can be used to strengthen the HCI intervention with more tailored strategies for vulnerable subgroups of CABG patients.