Effect of a Nursing Rehabilitation Protocol on Patients’ Adherence to Therapeutic Regimen Following Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: Acute Coronary Syndrome represents a spectrum of life-threatening cardiovascular conditions and nursing rehabilitation protocols have become a cornerstone in improving patient outcomes after acute coronary syndrome by addressing these adherence challenges. Aim: evaluate effect of a nursing rehabilitation protocol on patients’ adherence to therapeutic regimen following acute coronary syndrome. Research design: quasi-experimental research design (study/ control) was utilized. Sample: A purposive sample of sixty adult patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease from both sexes, randomly assigned into two equal groups. Setting: Cardiology Department at Assiut University Heart Hospital. Tools: A structured interview and Coronary Artery Disease Treatment Adherence Scale were assessed and analyzed before rehabilitation protocol and after one month. Results: Study’ findings revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between pre-study and pre-control groups regarding treatment adherence of patients (31.07 ± 3.58 & 29.07 ± 5.32 respectively) with p-value 0.093, while there was highly statistically significant difference after the rehabilitation protocol (93.17 ± 4.68 & 37.8 ± 8.64 respectively) with p-value 0.000*. There was a positive significant correlation between patients’ knowledge and their adherence to treatment regimen before and after one month of the rehabilitation protocol in both groups. Conclusion: rehabilitation protocol played a significant role in improving level of adherence to therapeutic regimen in patients following acute coronary syndrome. Recommendations:Nurses should provide rehabilitation protocol as a routine care for patients with acute coronary syndrome.