PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE FOR CARDIAC PATIENTS TAKING NITROGLYCERIN.
Contributors: University of Pittsburgh.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 86
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Increasing demands are being made on nurses as patient educators. The need for education to increase patient compliance with medication regimens has accelerated as shorter periods of hospitalization are required. To expedite the instruction of patients about the drug nitroglycerin, the researcher developed a 42-frame programmed instruction module.

The focus of this study was the development of a structured self-instruction strategy for angina patients taking nitroglycerin as medication. A second purpose was to assess immediate gains in patient knowledge following use of the Programmed Instruction Module.

A convenience sample of 105 male patients, aged 30-79, admitted with anginal pain to the cardiac or surgical units of three urban hospitals between January and March 1990, were selected for the study. Each was alternately assigned to receive either the self-paced Programmed Instruction Module about nitroglycerin designed by the researcher or a standard American Heart Association produced pamphlet, Understanding Angina. All participants in both groups took a 16-item nitroglycerin knowledge test, studied either the Module or Pamphlet for one-hour, then again took the 16-item knowledge test.

As expected, data analysis with independent t tests revealed a statistically significant (p $<$ 0.001) difference between the knowledge level of the Module Group and Pamphlet Group in the area of the medication nitroglycerin. Based on this result, modular instruction appears to be an efficient and effective method for medication instruction.

Several implications and recommendations for nursing practice and research were generated. Specifically, knowledge retention might be assessed six-months and later post-instruction; modular instruction as a self-teaching method following discharge be tested; and additional instructional materials be prepared in modular form.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-09, Section: A, page: 3336.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 1993.

School code: 0178.