LITERATURE REVIEW © 2005 British Association of Critical Care Nurses, Nursing in Critical Care 2005 • Vol 10 No 4 174 A review of the information needs of patients with acute coronary syndromes Fiona Timmins ABSTRACT The individual nature of information required by hospitalized patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) has been of concern to nurses for over 20 years. An information need is not necessarily a gap in knowledge that can be satisfied by education. It represents what the patient wants to know from the professional in order to cope effectively with the current situation. Through analysis of available litera- ture, it seems that patients appear to prioritize information that is pertinent to survival, such as symptom management, rather than broader lifestyle issues such as exercise and diet. Although information needs are individual and subjective to each patient, trends emerge within patient groups. Information needs of patients with CHD in coronary care unit and ward setting occur across eight or more common areas. Through patient-centred communication, patients’f preferences for information in these topics can be derived and used as the basis for information delivery. Individual idiosyncratic needs can also be noted and addressed. Key words: Information need • Coronary heart disease • CCU • Patient INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in the UK and accounts for 39% of all deaths (British Heart Foundation, 2004). Half of these deaths are due to cor- onary heart disease (CHD). Each year, about 270000 people suffer a myocardial infarction, and over 2 mil- lion people in the UK suffer with angina (British Heart Foundation, 2004). CHD and stroke combined accounts for 3% of all hospital admissions (British Heart Foundation, 2004). While in the past, the UK was recognized as being significantly behind other areas of Europe in terms of mortality rates, great progress been made in recent times (Department of Health, 2004). The National Service Framework (NSF) for CHD, published in 2000, set the agenda for the modernization of CHD health services. The percentage of patients receiving throm- bolysis within 30min of arriving in hospital has increased from 38% in 2000 to 81% in December 2003 (Department of Health, 2004). There has also been a great increase in consultant cardiologists and expan- sion of advanced nursing roles including nurse con- sultants. The death rate from heart disease in the under 75-year-old age group has dropped by almost a quarter since 1996 (Department of Health, 2004). Current policy focuses on improving the quality of services for patients in relation to quick access to and administration of thrombolysis, primary angioplasty, provision of risk factor management information for patients in the primary health care setting and improved medication regimens for those who have suffered myocardial infarction (Department of Health, 2004). The result of these initiatives has resulted in a better service for patients with a corresponding reduc- tion in mortality rates (Department of Health, 2004). This new and improved service provision for patients with myocardial infarction have significantly altered the hospital experience for many including shorter hospital stays. Improved access to primary angioplasty and thrombolysis and receipt of prompt treatment in the acute phase often prevent the natural and often-devastating progression of the infarction. Of interest to note is that while the mortality rate is falling in the UK, morbidity from CHD is rising (British Heart Foundation, 2004). As nurses, we wel- come a potential reduction in incidence and preva- lence rates of disease as well as mortality rates. Indeed, these are valid and reliable indicators of health status (McQueen and Anderson, 2003). However, an individual patients’ perception of their own health is more complex. Hence, there are limitations within this approach. Author: F Timmins, MSc, BNS, BSc Health & Soc (Open), FFNRCSI, NFESC, RNT, RGN, Cert., ICU/CCU Nursing, Director BSc (Cur), School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Dublin 2, Ireland Address for correspondence: School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 24 Dolier Street, Dublin 2, Ireland E-mail: timminsf@tcd.ie