Nurse-led peer support improved psychological status and quality of life in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) often experience psychological distress and reduced quality of life after stent implantation. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led peer support intervention on the psychological status and quality of life of patients with AMI post stent implantation. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 200 patients with AMI who underwent stent implantation were randomly assigned to either a nurse-led peer support intervention group (n = 100) or a standard care control group (n = 100). The intervention consisted of weekly 90-minute group sessions facilitated by trained nurses and peer supporters for 12 weeks. Psychological status was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale. Quality of life was measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks post intervention. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, individuals in the intervention group showed significantly lower anxiety (mean difference, -2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.2 to -1.8; P  < .001) and depression (mean difference, -2.1; 95% CI, -2.8 to -1.4; P  < .001) scores at 12 weeks. Perceived stress levels were also significantly reduced in the intervention group (mean difference, -3.7; 95% CI, -4.5 to -2.9; P  < .001). Quality of life scores improved significantly across all domains of the Short Form-36 in the intervention group, with the most notable improvements in emotional well-being (mean difference, 10.2; 95% CI, 7.1-13.3; P  < .001) and social functioning (mean difference, 9.8; 95% CI, 6.7-12.9; P  < .001). Medication adherence and perceived social support also improved significantly in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse-led peer support interventions significantly improve psychological status and quality of life in patients with AMI after stent implantation. These findings suggest that incorporating such interventions into standard care could enhance postoperative recovery and long-term outcomes for individuals with AMI.