Effectiveness of an Advanced Practice Nurse-Led Telehealth on Readmissions and Health-Related Outcomes Among Patients Post Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomised Controlled Trial with Process Evaluation

Abstract

The in-hospital survival rates after an Acute MyocardiaI Infarction (AMI) have tremendously improved. However, more patients are now at risk of readmissions after being discharged. This study’s aim is to develop and examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an Advanced Practice Nurse-Led Telehealth rehabilitative programme on ReAdmissions and health related outcomes among patients with AMI after discharge (ALTRA). A pilot randomised controlled trial with repeated measures was adopted. The intervention group (n= 41) received the 6 months of APN-led telehealth while the control group (n= 39) received only usual care. The results demonstrated favourable lower incidences of readmissions, shorter readmission length of stay days and longer time to readmissions at both 30 and 180 days. The process evaluation showed that ALTRA was acceptable as a novel option in the delivery of modern healthcare to minimize preventable readmissions to save hospital beds days and improve patient’s health related outcomes.