Effectiveness of Instructional Program in Improve Patients Attitudes towards Atrial Fibrillation in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an instructional program on patients' attitudes towards atrial fibrillation.

Method: A quasi-experimental study conducted at Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital for the period from September 7^th, 2022 to April 14^th, 2023. The study sample consisted of (60) patients divided into two groups, the study group consisted of (30) patients who were exposed to the instruction program, and the control group consisted of (30) patients not exposed to the program. The effectiveness of the instruction program was measured through a questionnaire consisting of (17) items to measure their attitudes. The validity was determined by a panel of experts and the reliability of the tool was determined by a pilot study. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistical analysis..

Results: The results indicated that the average age of the participants in the study group was 44.8 and the average age in the control group was 50.7. Most of them were males in the study group (73.3%) and the control group (53.3%), and most of them could only read and write. The results reveal that there is no statistically significant difference in the attitudes scores between the study and control groups in the pre-test period for measurement (t = 0.605; p = 0.547). While there was a statistically significant difference in the attitudes scores between the study group and the control group in the post-test period for measurement (t = 3.982; p = 0.000).

Conclusions: The study concluded that the patients had negative attitudes toward towards the atrial fibrillation before implementation of the instructional program and after applying the instruction program, there were improvements in their attitudes. Highlighting the conduct of such programs on atrial fibrillation patients in large samples regardless of age, gender and educational level.