Positive effects of increased nurse support for male patients after acute myocardial infarction

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Abstract
The effect of increased nurse support on patients below 70 years of age attending an out-patient clinic following acute myocardial infarction was evaluated. Patients who saw a nurse 14 days after discharge (n=56) were compared to a control group (n=47) who, following the ordinary routines, were first seen 8 weeks after discharge. Increased nurse support had positive effects on psychosocial variables such as depressive feelings, expected quality of life in the future, and satisfaction with contact with the staff. However, no effects were found on any of the cardiac variables. Patients in the intervention group showed a decrease in depressive feelings during the 8 weeks follow-up period, whereas there was an increase for the control group. The patients in the intervention group also tended to have a better belief in the future compared to the control group. Patients in the intervention group were more satisfied with the staff contact than were the control group.