The effect of telephone follow-up on different domains of quality of life in patients with pacemaker at pacemaker implantation clinic in Chamran Hospital of Isfa-han in 2007

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute cardiac diseases are a hazardous problem that threats the human life. Pacemaker is one of the curative and preventive maneuvers in treating the patients with arrhythmia. It can cause physical and psychological problems for patients, so following-up the treatment of these patients after discharge is crucial. Telephone follow-up can be used as an effective method for this reason. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of telephone follow-up on different domains of quality of life in patients with pacemaker.

METHODS: This was a prospective quasi experimental study that covered 40 patients that were divided into two groups. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling. The data were collected through";SF-36"; questionnaires and were analyzed with SPSS software.

RESULTS: Data analyses show that the mean score of the quality of physical life in case group was significantly higher than control group and the difference between two groups were significant (p < 0.001, t = 20.23).

CONCLUSION: The case group's health after the telephone follow-up was in a better condition than control group's. Therefore the application of this method for following-up the patient after discharge is beneficial to patient's health and quality of life.

KEY WORDS: Telephone follow-up, nurse, quality of life, patient with pacemaker