A Multicentre, Fully Nurse-Coordinated, Intensive, Cardiovascular Prevention Intervention Programme after an Acute Coronary Syndrome

Research Article

Ann Nurs Res Pract. 2023; 8(1): 1053.

A Multicentre, Fully Nurse-Coordinated, Intensive, Cardiovascular Prevention Intervention Programme after an Acute Coronary Syndrome

La Sala R¹*, De Stefano G², Paoli G², Sinno F³, Mattioli M², Ricci M², Gurgoglione FL², Barocelli F², Tuttolomondo D², Leporati S², Cazzato S², Ardissino D²

1Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Department of Health Professions - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma - Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy

2Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardio Toracic and Vascular - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

3Division of General Pediatrics-Urgency, Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma - Parma, Italy

*Corresponding author: La Sala RBachelor of Science in Nursing, Department of Health Professions - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma - Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy

Received: January 02, 2023; Accepted: February 09, 2023; Published: February 16, 2023

Abstract

The main objective of cardiovascular disease prevention is to reduce morbidity and mortality by promoting a healthy lifestyle, reducing risk factors, and improving adherence to medications. Secondary prevention after an acute coronary syndrome has proved to be effective in reducing new cardiovascular events, but its limited use in everyday clinical practice suggests there is considerable room for improvement. The short-term results of evidence-based studies of nurse-coordinated secondary prevention programmes have been positive, but there is a lack of long-term outcome data. The Aliance for Secondary Prevention after an acute coronary syndrome in the Emilia-Romagna region (ALLEPRE) is a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial designed to compare the effects of a structured, intensive nursing intervention on long-term outcomes and risk profiles after an acute coronary syndrome with those of the standard of care. Nurses fully coordinate secondary prevention in the intervention arm using a multi- dimensional nursing form after attending ad hoc teaching sessions. All of the patients randomised to the intervention group take part in nine 1-to-1 sessions with an experienced nurse from the participating centres that have the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles, reducing risk factors, and increasing adherence to medication over a mean period of five years. The primary clinical end point is the reduction in the risk of the 5-year occurrence of major adverse events.

Keywords: Multi-dimensional nursing form; Narrative; Acute coronary syndrome; Secondary prevention; Coronary heart disease

Abbreviations: ACS: acute coronary syndrome; ALLEPRE: ALLiance for sEcondary PREvention after an acute coronary syndrome; MNF: Multi-dimensional Nursing Form; NANDA: North American Nursing Diagnosis Association.

Introduction

Coronary heart disease is a chronic degenerative disease, and patients who recover from an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) are at high risk of developing recurrent events [1].

Although secondary prevention measures have proved to be effective and are strongly recommended by all of the international guidelines [2,3], the EUROASPIRE IV surveys [4,5] have shown that there is still a high prevalence of conventional risk factors, that secondary prevention measures are inadequately implemented, and that their main goals were often not reached. In addition, there are considerable discrepancies in secondary prevention practices between centres and countries, and cardiac prevention and rehabilitation programmes are widely under-used despite their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular risk over time [6,7]. Over the last 10 years, nurses have been increasingly involved in successful cardiovascular risk management [8-10] but, although this has improved the levels of cardiovascular risk, it has not led to a clearly demonstrated reduction in hard endpoints such as major cardiovascular adverse events or mortality [7].

The aim of the ALLEPRE trial is to evaluate the benefit of a homogeneous, structured, secondary prevention intervention programme that is fully coordinated by nurses from in- and outpatient clinics in terms of major clinical events and the cardiovascular risk profiles of ACS patients living in the large Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. This paper describes the trial protocol with particular focus on the leadership role of nurses and the use of a specially developed Multi-dimensional Nursing Form (MNF).

Materials and Methods

Study Design

The ALLEPRE trial (NCT02522182) is a prospective, randomised, multicentre, interventional study designed to assess the efficacy of a fully nurse-coordinated prevention programme for patients hospitalised because of an ACS (Figure 1). Patient enrolment started in October 2012 and was completed in April 2022; the follow-up is still ongoing. The study was approved by the Ethics Committees of all of the participating centres, and written consent was obtained from all of the patients enrolled.

Citation: La Sala R, De Stefano G, Paoli G, Sinno F, Mattioli M, et al. A Multicentre, Fully Nurse-Coordinated, Intensive, Cardiovascular Prevention Intervention Programme after an Acute Coronary Syndrome. Ann Nurs Res Pract. 2023; 8(1): 1053.