The Effectiveness of Interactive Coronary Heart Disease Patient Education: a multi-perspective participatory approach

The aim of this evaluation was to assess whether patient education interactive software is a useful mode of delivering education to patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Together with understanding the practical issues related to implementing this software and enabling a coherent understanding by using a multi perspective participatory approach, when analyzing the findings. The design was multi-perspective, those involved in delivering and using the software participated in the research design. A mixture of questionnaires, diaries, focus groups, interviews and comment books was used to understand their perspectives. Patients reported a significantly increased sense of control over their heart condition (Z = - 5.121, p < .001) and significantly understood their heart condition more after using the software ((Z = −5.089, p < .001). There was no significant change in respondents’ concern about their heart condition after using the software (Z = −1.93, p = .0541). The majority of patients found the software easy to use and useful. A thematic analysis revealed further insights into why the software might be useful and how the software can be implemented.