Impact of Continuous Care Model on self-care behaviors of patients with Myocardial Infarction: A randomized clinical trial study

Background and Aim: Self-care behaviors are one of the effective factors in preventing symptoms and recurrence of the disease. Continuous Care Model has been introduced as a regular process for effective communication between patient and nurse. considering the feature of this model in the continuity of communication in patient care that is appropriate to the patient's condition, This study aimed to determine the effect of Continued Care Model (CCM) on self-care behaviors in patients with myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial study was performed on patients admitted to coronary care unit (CCU) wards of the Zahedan-based teaching hospitals in 2017. Sixty patients were selected by convenience sampling method and assigned randomly into intervention and control groups (N=30 per group). The CCM in five group sessions, they performed 45-30 minutes and were followed up by telephone. Data were collected by using a demographics form and questionnaire of standard scale Self-Care Miller in a Data were collected from using a demographics form and questionnaire of standard scale Self-Care Miller in three periods of time. data were analyzed in SPSS software (Version 20) and with the help Independent t-test, Chi-square and repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test, at the significant level of P<0.05 was analyzed. Results: Two groups of control and intervention there were no significant differences in individual variables. Mean scores of diet (P<0.001), non-smoking (P=0.03), moderation of stress variable (P=0.002), physical activity (P=0.001), and total score of self-care behaviors (P <0.001) were significantly increased in the intervention group immediately after the intervention was implemented The results showed that the changes in self-care behaviors in the two groups were not the same in three time intervals and in the intervention group were statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The CCM can cause positive changes in self-care behaviors in patients. Therefore, using this model as a community-based approach in the health system is recommended in patients with myocardial infarction.