The Impact of Type of Acute Myocardial Infarction on Cardiac Patient Self-efficacy After Hospitalization

Background: Self-efficacy is an important psychological construct associated with patient adherence with healthy lifestyle choices. Few studies have focused on the impacts of the type of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and STEMI, and the different treatment modalities of AMI on changes in cardiac self-efficacy after hospitalization. Objective: This study examined the changes in cardiac self-efficacy based on the type of AMI and aimed to investigate the impact of different treatment modalities on changes in cardiac self-efficacy among post-AMI patients during hospitalization and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups subsequent to hospitalization. Methods: A repeated-measures design was used with a convenient sample of 210 patients diagnosed with first AMI. Patients completed the Cardiac Self-efficacy Questionnaire at the 3 time points. The study was implemented in 3 major hospitals in Jordan. Patients did not have access to cardiac rehabilitation. Results: There was a statistically significant impact of AMI type on changes in cardiac self-efficacy measured between T1 and T2, between T2 and T3, and subsequently between T1 and T3. Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant impact of treatment modalities of AMI on changes in cardiac self-efficacy measured at the 3 time points. Conclusions: Assessment of self-efficacy for post-AMI patients is recommended. Moreover, post-non-STEMI patients need more attention when implementing an intervention to enhance self-efficacy after hospitalization. Health decision makers have to consider establishing cardiac rehabilitation to improve self-efficacy in Jordan. Further research is needed to confirm the study results and to investigate other contributing factors that could influence self-efficacy after hospitalization.