Heartlearn: Effects of a training session for relatives of myocardial infarction patients

The cardiac rehabilitation unit of the North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke provides an education session (‘Heartlearn’) for the partners and relatives of patients in the coronary care unit with the provisional diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. This paper reports the results of the session on the self-rated confidence levels of the session attenders, on their knowledge about coronary disease and their attitudes to learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Partners or relatives of 36.5% of 368 CCU patients admitted over 22 months attended a ‘Heartlearn’ session. Following the session there was a significant increase in levels of confidence for understanding the nature of a heart attack, for knowledge of causes of a heart attack and for feeling confident as a carer. Levels of knowledge about heart disease were relatively high before the session and these levels were increased after the session. Five per cent of responders knew how to perform CPR and 66% wished to learn the technique.