The Effect of Implementing Orem’s Self-Care Model on the Quality of Life of Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Maryam  Heidari; Sanaz  Aazami; kourosh  Sayehmiri; Hamid  Taghinejad

doi:10.18502/jthc.v19is1.18477

Maryam Heidari Student of Master in Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Sanaz Aazami Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
kourosh Sayehmiri Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Hamid Taghinejad Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jthc.v19is1.18477

Keywords: Orem’s self-care; Quality of life; Myocardial infarction

Abstract

Background and Objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular disorders and a progressively debilitating condition. Patients with MI often experience a reduced quality of life (QoL), primarily due to the severe complications associated with the disease. Enhancing QoL and self-care practices in these patients is essential. Self-care training is a potential strategy to improve QoL in this population. Consequently, this study aimed to explore the impact of implementing Orem’s self-care model on the QoL of MI patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design and was conducted between February 2021 and August 2022. The study population consisted of 70 MI patients hospitalized in the ICU of a hospital in Ilam City. Eligible patients, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, were divided into intervention and control groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising 3 sections: 1) demographic information, 2) needs assessment based on Orem’s model, and 3) the MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life questionnaire. The intervention group received four self-care training sessions (each lasting 30–45 minutes) delivered through in-person, virtual, and phone-based methods, along with a self-care training booklet. Participants in both groups completed the QoL and self-care questionnaires before the intervention, as well as 2 weeks and 2 months after the intervention, via face-to-face visits or phone/virtual interviews. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS, version 26. The normality of the data was confirmed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and repeated-measures ANOVA was employed to compare QoL scores across different dimensions between the intervention and control groups before and after the implementation of Orem’s model.

Results: The findings revealed no significant difference in the mean QoL scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (mean difference =5.2±2.3; P=0.05). However, after the intervention, a significant difference in the mean QoL scores was observed between the 2 groups (mean difference =15.9±8.1; P=0.001).

Conclusion: Orem’s self-care training effectively enhanced the QoL of MI patients, indicating that the approach is a viable non-pharmaceutical strategy for improving QoL in this patient population.