The Effect of Teach-Back Method on Quality of Life in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Issues concerning the quality of life in patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) have raised concerns among healthcare providers and taken an effort to tackle the problems of these patients. It seems necessary to educate the patients about all the risk factors ahead and the benefits of living with an ICD in order to increase their quality of life. In this regard, the teach-back method can help improve the quality of life in patients with ICD.
Aim: To determine the effect of the teach-back method on the quality of life in patients with ICD.
Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. A total of 70 eligible patients were recruited using convenience sampling and then assigned to two groups of intervention and control using a random number table. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the MacNew Heart Disease Health-Related Quality of Life (HD-HRQL) Questionnaire. Patients in the intervention group were educated using a teach-back method for at least five sessions of 30-45 minutes, while the control group only received routine care. Data were entered into SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA) and analyzed using descriptive (frequency distribution tables, mean, standard deviation) and analytical statistics (independent t-test, chi-square test, and repeated measures ANOVA).
Results: The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that the differences in the mean score of quality of life and its dimensions were not similar in the two groups, so that there was a significant increase in the mean score of quality of life and its dimensions in the intervention group compared to the control group (p≤0001). Moreover, the results of Group × Time interaction indicated that these two variables affected the mean score of quality of life and its dimensions and differed significantly in measurement time points (p≤0001).
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, using the teach-back method had a positive effect on the quality of life in patients with ICD. Therefore, this method can create an optimal level of learning in these patients