Assessment of Patient's Opinions on Personalised Advice Sheet Given before They Leave the Ward after a Myocardial Infarction

A personalised information and advice sheet for subjects with coronary artery disease was given to 120 consecutive patients leaving the Coronary Care Ward, Frenchay Hospital, after treatment for myocardial infarction. 5—10 months after discharge the 107 surviving patients were sent a letter enquiring about the benefits and weaknesses of this. Of 100 patients who replied, 97 said that the subject was fully covered and 98 that the sheet was helpful. Nevertheless, 14 found some topics difficult to understand and 13 found some worrying. The commoner problems were about fear and insecurity on leaving the ward, exactly how much physical exertion could be safely carried out, and how to cope with chest pains, particularly angina.