Participation of patients after myocardial infarction in the active care of their health in the secondary prevention

Prevention of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction is in recent years a widely discussed topic. Cardiovascular diseases are currently the most widespread disease among the worldwide. This thesis deals with the participation of patients after myocardial infarction in active care of their health in secondary prevention. For failure principles of secondary prevention is increased morbidity of these cardiovascular diseases and subsequently increase the costs for further treatment. Well-timed and targeted prevention is very important how to reduce the cost of treatment and the restoration of health and maintaining a good quality of life. The thesis is composed of two parts, theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part of the thesis describes cardiovascular diseases, especially acute myocardial infarction, prevention and education, including educational process of secondary prevention. The empirical part was realized by qualitative research. Information was collected by semi-standardized interview technique. The interview was composed of both closed and open-ended questions where had respondents the opportunity to express individually. The research group consisted of patients and nurses of three selected cardiocenters in Czech Republic - University Hospital Motol, České Budějovice Hospital, a.s. and Faculty Hospital Plzeň. In the first phase of the research we examined the awareness of patients of secondary prevention. In addition we inquire into the level of their activities in the care of their health and the impact of realized changes to their life satisfaction. The research sample is consisted of 12 respondents - patients who in former times have had a myocardial infarction and now were re- hospitalized due to symptoms of heart problems. For the research were patients selected by random sampling and divided into three groups, four from each cardiocenter. In the second phase of the research, we investigated the options and rate of education of nurses taking care of patients after myocardial infarction in pursuance of secondary prevention and types of nursing documentation kept by nurses of cardiology ward. This part of the study sample was consisted of nine nurses working in selected cardiocentre. For one interview were approached three nurses from each chosen department with longer experience in the field of cardiology. For the research was established six goals and eight research questions. The results of the research showed that the patients are relatively well educated in the principles of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, but not enough by nurses. The knowledge of patients of prevention of myocardial infarction and secondary prevention measures is at a relatively good level. The rate of changes in the approach to secondary prevention is unsatisfactory and doesn´t meet the rate of improvement of capabilities of modern medicine regardless of their age and length of treatment. The research also showed a positive effect of the principles of secondary prevention on the quality of life of patients