The effect of reinforcing an educational programme using telephone follow-up on health-related quality of life of individuals using warfarin: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of reinforcing an educational programme through telephone follow-up on health-related quality of life and anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals starting warfarin therapy. BACKGROUND: Educational interventions have improved quality of life in individuals using warfarin. Few studies have examined the addition of telephone follow-up to enhance educational interventions. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial in outpatient setting. METHODS: Hospitalised adults starting warfarin therapy who agreed to participate received an educational programme about the warfarin treatment. At discharge, they were randomised to receive either five telephone follow-up calls (intervention) or no telephone calls (controls). Both groups were evaluated for health-related quality of life (using Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) at three and six months post-discharge. Groups were compared at each time by independent-samples t test, and over time by repeated-measures analysis of variance, with time (three and six months), groups (intervention and control) and an interaction between time and group as factors. Level of significance was set at 0.05. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials was used for reporting. RESULTS: Fifty-two individuals (26 per group) completed the study. There were no statistical differences between groups in health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms, at both times post-discharge. Participants who received follow-up telephone calls reported better positive psychological impact (a subscale of quality of life) than controls. CONCLUSIONS: Reinforcing an educational programme with telephone follow-ups did not have an overall effect on health-related quality of life of individuals using warfarin but promoted positive psychological impact. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The low cost of reinforcing educational programmes with telephone calls and the improvement in positive psychological aspects indicate that this type of intervention is still a promising intervention that could be further investigated and improved.

Photocatalytic Nanowires-Based Air Filter: Towards Reusable Protective Masks.

In the last couple decades, several viral outbreaks resulting in epidemics and pandemics with thousands of human causalities have been witnessed. The current Covid-19 outbreak represents an unprecedented crisis. In stopping the virus' spread, it is fundamental to have personal protective equipment and disinfected surfaces. Here, the development of a TiO2 nanowires (TiO2NWs) based filter is reported, which it is believed will work extremely well for personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as for a new generation of air conditioners and air purifiers. Its efficiency relies on the photocatalytic generation of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon UV illumination, and on a particularly high dielectric constant of TiO2, which is of paramount importance for enhanced wettability by the water droplets carrying the germs. The filter pore sizes can be tuned by processing TiO2NWs into filter paper. The kilogram-scale production capability of TiO2NWs gives credibility to its massive application potentials.

A randomized controlled trial of an educational programme with telephone reinforcement to improve perceived health status of Brazilian burn victims at 6-month post discharge.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare health status, self-efficacy, symptoms of depression and anxiety and post-traumatic stress between two groups of burn victims receiving information on self-care through routine care or an educational programme with telephone reinforcement. BACKGROUND: Self-care post discharge is an important factor on quality of life of burn victims. Reinforcement of self-care programme via telephone follow-up might improve self-efficacy and general health perception in burn victims. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHOD: From 2011-2012, we randomized 108 burn victims either to an educational programme on self-care tailored for burn victims according to the cognitive social theory and reinforcement by telephone every 4-6 weeks for 6 months post discharge, or to the routine instructions given at discharge from the hospital. During hospitalization, at discharge, at 6 and 12 months post discharge, we collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, Burns Specific Health Scale Revised (BSHS-R), Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and Impact of the Event Scale (IES). We analysed data using t-test, Chi-square test and linear regression models. RESULTS: Groups were similar regarding clinical and demographic characteristics, except for age. At 6-month follow-up, there were no differences between the groups on BSHS-R, PSE and HADS Depression, while the intervention group showed fewer symptoms of anxiety (HADS Anxiety) and lower IES scores than the control group. CONCLUSION: The educational programme, when compared with usual care, reduced anxiety symptoms and post-traumatic stress. Educational programmes with telephone follow-up might be a viable intervention to improve self-care for burn victims.

A randomized controlled trial of an educational programme to improve self-care in Brazilian patients following percutaneous coronary intervention.

AIMS: To test an educational programme with telephone follow-up to improve self-care in Brazilian patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention has been established as a treatment for coronary disease. However, additional intervention is needed to improve self-care for individuals who undergo this procedure to reduce further disease. Telephone follow-up is one strategy that has been used to improve chronic disease self-care. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01341093. METHODS: Sixty patients who were preparing for their first percutaneous coronary intervention between 2011-2012 were randomly allocated to an educational programme with telephone follow-up (N = 30) or a control group (N = 30). Perceived health status was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form. Self-efficacy, symptoms of anxiety and depression and medication adherence were also assessed. Measures were collected before intervention (baseline) and 6 months later. RESULTS: Both groups improved from baseline to 6 months in the 'Physical Component Summary' and in the domains of 'Physical Functioning', 'Role-Emotional' and 'Role-Physical'. The educational programme group showed a reduction in anxiety from baseline to 6-month follow-up, while the control group showed a slight increase. No differences in symptoms in depression and self-efficacy were found and both groups reported high levels of medication adherence. CONCLUSION: The educational programme with telephone follow-up is a promising intervention as it led to reduction in anxiety for those receiving the educational programme. Further improvements in timing and focus of the educational programme, such as targeting emotional and social lifestyle changes, might be warranted.

[Self-Care, Sense Of Coherence And Depression In Patients Hospitalized For Decompensated Heart Failure]. / Autocuidado, senso de coerência e depressão em pacienteshospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca descompensada.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the self-care behaviors according to gender, the symptoms of depression and sense of coherence and compare the measurements of depression and sense of coherence according to gender. METHOD: A correlational, cross-sectional study that investigated 132 patients with decompensated heart failure (HF). Data were collected through interviews and consultation to medical records, and analyzed using the chi-square and the Student's t tests with significance level of 0.05. Participants were 75 men and 57 women, aged 63.2 years on average (SD = 13.8). RESULTS: No differences in self-care behavior by gender were found, except for rest after physical activity (p = 0.017). Patients who practiced physical activity showed fewer symptoms of depression (p<0.001). There were no differences in sense of coherence according to self-care behavior and gender. Women had more symptoms of depression than men (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to women with HF considering self-care and depressive symptoms.

Reliability of the Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory (CPLNI) for use in Portugal.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To perform the semantic validation and to evaluate the reliability and the presence of ceiling and floor effects of the Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory in Portuguese patients with coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Information should be selected based on what patients know and need to learn, which means that the teaching process should be based on each person's needs. The Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory is aimed at identifying the cardiac patients' individual learning needs. DESIGN: Methodological research design. METHODS: Two hundred patients hospitalised at the coronary intensive care unit or at the cardiothoracic surgery unit of a public hospital in Lisbon answered the adapted version of the Cardiac Patients Learning Needs Inventory. Internal consistency was estimated based on Cronbach's alpha. Scores above 0·50 were considered acceptable. Stability was measured through test-retest and calculated using student's t test. Significance was set at 0·05. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 65 years (SD = 11·8), and most were men (152; 76%). Cronbach's alpha for the total scale was high in the first and second measurement (0·91), and for seven domains, it was acceptable in the first and second measurement (range from 0·50-0·89). No statistically significant difference was found between mean scores on the first and second measurement. Lower diversity was observed in the answers, most of which ranged between important and very important (ceiling-effect). CONCLUSION: The adapted version for use in Portugal maintained the conceptual, semantic and idiomatic equivalences of the original version and showed adequate reliability. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICES: Owing to the lack of validated instruments translated into Portuguese, to measure cardiac patients' learning needs, this study entails important clinical and theoretical implications.

[Content validation of the nursing diagnosis Nausea]. / Validação de conteúdo do diagnóstico de enfermagem Náusea.

This study aimed to evaluate the content validity of the nursing diagnosis of nausea in the immediate post-operative period, considering Fehring's model. Descriptive study with 52 nurses experts who responded an instrument containing identification and validation of nausea diagnosis data. Most experts considered the domain 12 (Comfort), Class 1 (Physical Comfort) and the statement (Nausea) adequate to the diagnosis. Modifications were suggested in the current definition of this nursing diagnosis. Four defining characteristics were considered primary (reported nausea, increased salivation, aversion to food and vomiting sensation) and eight secondary (increased swallowing, sour taste in the mouth, pallor, tachycardia, diaphoresis, sensation of hot and cold, changes in blood pressure and pupil dilation). The total score for the diagnosis of nausea was 0.79. Reports of nausea, vomiting sensation, increased salivation and aversion to food are strong predictors of nursing diagnosis of nausea.

[Translation and cultural adaptation of the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire for burn victims in Brazil]. / Tradução e adaptação transcultural do Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire para vítimas de queimaduras no Brasil.

This methodological study aimed to describe the process of translation and cultural adaptation of the Perceived stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ) and analyze the internal consistency of the items in the step of pre-testing. The PSQ was developed to evaluate the perception of stigmatizing behaviors of burn victims. The adaptation process was carried out from August 2012 to February 2013, comprising the steps outlined in the literature. As part of this process, the pre-test with 30 adult burn victims was held. All participants at this step reported to understand the instrument items and the scale of responses. There were no suggestions or changes in the tested version. The value of Cronbach's alpha at pre-test was 0.87. The contribution of this study is to describe the operation of each of the steps of this methodological process and show the internal consistency of the items in the pre-test.

[Duration of smoking cessation for the prevention of surgical wound healing complications]. / Tempo de cessação do tabagismo para a prevenção de complicações na cicatrização de feridas cirúrgicas.

The study aimed to find scientific evidence about the duration of preoperative smoking cessation required to reduce surgical wound healing complications. An integrative review was performed in the databases, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), from 08/17/2012 to 09/17/2012, using the keywords: tobacco use cessation and wound healing; tobacco use cessation and preoperative period; tobacco use cessation and perioperative period (LILACS) and tobacco use cessation and perioperative period; tobacco use cessation and wound healing (MEDLINE). Out of the 81 eligible studies, 12 were included. The duration of smoking cessation needed to reduce healing complications was at least four weeks (four studies with level of evidence I, three studies with level of evidence II, two studies with level of evidence IV, and one study with level of evidence VII).

Tuning the color of high-karat gold in Au-TiO2 nanoparticle composites all the way to black.

For centuries, artisans have harnessed gold nanoparticles to imbue their creations with the vibrant hues that captivate the eye through interactions with visible light. In modern times, these distinct optoelectronic characteristics have pivoted toward the forefront of innovative technologies, finding their niche in advanced applications from solar energy to medicine, overshadowing their artistic heritage. This investigation reimagines the utilitarian scope of gold by innovating the optical characteristics of gold-titania nanostructures. This allows for an expanded palette of colors that retain the value of the precious metal. We employ nanostructured TiO2 in a high-pressure-high-temperature sintering technique that stabilizes Au nanoparticles, thwarting coalescence, and Oswald ripening. Further refinement is possible by engineering TiO2 color centers through the introduction of oxygen vacancies and Ti3+ ions, which aid in creating an opulent high-karat black-gold, but preserve the mechanical attributes essential to the integrity and function of the final product.

Reliability and validity of the body image quality of life inventory: version for Brazilian burn victims.

The aims of this study were to adapt the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI) into Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and to assess the psychometric properties of the adapted version. Construct validity was assessed by correlating the BIQLI-BP scores with the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, with Burns Specific Health Scale-Revised (BSHS-R), and with gender, total body surface area burned, and visibility of the scars. Participants were 77 adult burn patients. Cronbach's alpha for the adapted version was .90 and moderate linear correlations were found between body image and self-esteem and between BIQLI-BP scores and two domains of the BSHS-R: affect and body image and interpersonal relationships. The BIQLI-BP showed acceptable levels of reliability and validity for Brazilian burn patients.

[Perceived health status and pharmacological adherence of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention]. / Estado de saúde percebido e adesão farmacológica em pacientes submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the perceived health status and pharmacological adherence, and to verify the correlation between these measures in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, after hospital discharge. It was a cross-sectional study carried out from May 2011 to July 2012. The instruments used were: SF-86 and Measurement of Adherence to Treatment, with 101 patients, 54 (53.5%) of which were men; average age of 59.5 +/- 10.3; and 32 (32.7%) with previous cardiac treatment. All study participants were using antihypertensive drugs; the majority 99 (98%) used antiplatelet drugs; 98 (97%) used cholesterol reducers, and 59 (58.4%) used coronary vasodilators. The average number of drugs used was 6.8 +/- 2.1. Pharmacological adherence was observed in 98 (97%) patients. The participants presented best perceived health status in Social Functioning and Physical Functioning. Positive correlations of moderate magnitude were found between measurements of pharmacological adherence and Physical Functioning, General Health and Social Functioning. There was correlation between pharmacological adherence and perceived health status.

[Anxiety and depression among men and women who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention]. / Ansiedade e depressão entre homens e mulheres submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea.

A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study aimed to investigate the association of sex and the presence of anxiety and depression after hospital discharge in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Fifty-nine patients undergoing PCI and receiving outpatient treatment in the first seven months after hospital discharge were evaluated. To assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used. To test the possible associations between the variables anxiety, depression and sex the Chi-square test was used with a significance level of 5%. The results indicated a greater number of women with depression and the association between the variables sex and depression was statistically significant. In relation to anxiety, cases were more frequent in males and the association between the variables sex and anxiety was not statistically significant.

Massive myocardial infiltration by primary anaplastic T-cell lymphoma: a case report.

Background: Myocardial infiltration by primary cardiac neoplasm is a rare entity, providing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The pathological spectrum includes more frequently benign forms. Refractory heart failure, pericardial effusion, and arrhythmias due to infiltrative mass are the most common clinical manifestations. Case summary: We describe the case of a 35-year-old man complaining of shortness of breath and weight loss in the last 2 months. A previous acute myeloid leukaemia treated with allogenic bone marrow transplant was reported. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an apical thrombus in the left ventricle, with inferior and septal hypokinesia conditioning a mildly reduced ejection fraction, circumferential pericardial effusion, and abnormal right ventricular thickening. Cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed diffuse thickening of the right ventricular free wall due to myocardial infiltration. Positron emission tomography showed the presence of neoplastic tissue with increased metabolic activity. A pericardiectomy was performed showing a widespread cardiac neoplastic infiltration. Histopathological analysis done on right ventricular pathological samples obtained during cardiac surgery revealed the presence of a rare and aggressive cardiac anaplastic T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Few days after the operation, the patient developed refractory cardiogenic shock and unluckily died before initiating an adequate antineoplastic therapy. Discussion: Primary cardiac lymphoma is not frequent, and the lack of specific symptoms makes the diagnosis extremely challenging and often limited to autopsy findings. Our case highlights the importance of an appropriate diagnostic algorithm, requiring non-invasive multimodality assessment imaging and then invasive cardiac biopsy. This approach may allow an early diagnosis and an adequate therapy for this otherwise fatal pathology.

Teaching away from school: do school digital support influence teachers' well-being during Covid-19 emergency?

The Covid-19 pandemic coerced the closure of most schools around the world and forced teachers and students to change teaching and learning methods. Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) generated consequences to teachers and students in terms of learning outcomes and personal well-being. This study focuses on teachers' individual and working environment well-being in ERT conditions and intends to explore which factors related to the provision of digital equipment and the implementation of digital strategies by schools explain the school effect on both typologies of well-being during the Covid-19 emergency. To do so, data collected in the Responses to Educational Disruption Survey (REDS) across three countries were used, and a two-step analysis was conducted. A first step involves the use of linear mixed effect models to assess the school effect on teachers individual and working environment well-being. In the second step Regression Trees (RT) are used to investigate which factors and policies related to digital tools explained the identified school effects. The results show that schools and countries played a role in determining teachers perceived well-being during the Covid-19 disruption, in particular the school level explains more than 7% of the work environment well-being and 8% of individual one. In the second step of the analysis results show that a high positive effect on school environment well-being is observed when the school's activity is not influenced by policies limiting the use of online tools and when teacher's readiness for remote teaching, like the development of technical skills and the provision of internet access and digital devices, is met. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates the impact of digital tactics and instruments provided by schools on teachers' well-being on a large scale.

Plasma fibrinogen levels and restenosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Plasma fibrinogen levels influence restenosis following elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable angina. It is unknown whether the same is true in the setting of primary PCI. The aim of the study was therefore to assess whether fibrinogen levels were associated to 6-month in-stent restenosis (ISR) in STEMI patients undergoing successful primary PCI. From January 2003 to October 2004, 267 patients were admitted to our Institution for STEMI and treated by primary PCI. Of these, 171 patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in our study. Fibrinogen levels were assessed at admission, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h following PCI and at discharge. Six-month angiographic follow-up was 100% complete. Subjects with 6-month ISR showed higher fibrinogen levels than patients without ISR. Patients in the upper fibrinogen tertile showed a higher 6-month incidence of symptoms and/or inducible myocardial ischemia (27.1% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.006) and a larger late lumen loss (1.3 ± 0.8 vs. 1.0 ± 0.9 mm, P = 0.049). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant and independent association between fibrinogen levels and ISR. Our study suggests that increased plasma fibrinogen levels are related to ISR in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. Larger studies are warranted to assess the prognostic value of fibrinogen over harder end-points.

The prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen concentrations of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a cautionary message.

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen elevation is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of increased fibrinogen concentrations in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 428 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI were retrospectively selected (median age: 62 years; 82.5% males) from a continuous case series of 832 ACS patients. Plasma fibrinogen concentrations were measured before PCI and after 24, 48, and 72 hours. In the 4-year follow-up, one major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) occurred in 111 patients (40%): 17 re-STEMI (7%), 64 re-PCI (22%), 22 cardiac deaths (7%), and eight non ST-elevated acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS, 4%). RESULTS: According to the reference change value, fibrinogen concentrations increased in 25% of patients at 24 h, 64% at 48 h and 19% at 72 h. Only fibrinogen concentrations at 48 h showed a mild association with overall MACEs (p = 0.036): the risk increased, starting from a concentration of 4 g/L. However a further multivariate model did not confirm any prognostic value. No association with specific MACEs emerged. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to NSTEACS patients, fibrinogen concentrations increased slightly in STEMI patients after primary PCI, however, they were not as prognostic as for MACEs.

Relationship between left atrial volume and atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, limited information is available about the role of preoperative echocardiographic left atrial evaluation to predict AF occurrence after CABG. Thus, we prospectively compared the ability of echocardiographic measurements of left atrial volume to predict AF in this setting. METHODS: From January to December 2009, 220 patients (75% males, 66.8 ± 10.0 years) met the inclusion criteria of our study (isolated and elective CABG, no valve surgery, no permanent AF, or other chronic atrial arrhythmias). The day before CABG a complete echocardiographic evaluation was performed with left atrial volume measurements. The primary endpoint of the study was postoperative AF (POAF) lasting >30 seconds. RESULTS: POAF was observed in 61 patients (27.7%). POAF patients showed increased left atrial M-mode anteroposterior dimension (41.2 ± 6.4 mm vs. 43.6 ± 7.3 mm; p = 0.020) and increased left atrial volume (59.0 ± 18.3 mL vs. 70.6 ± 28.1 mL; p = 0.0004). Left atrial volume was an independent risk factor for POAF (OR 10.03; 95% CI 10.01 to 10.05; p = 0.01), along with postoperative bleeding with hemoglobin levels below 8 g/dL (OR 20.84; 95% CI 10.12 to 70.19; p = 0.03) and preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction below 40% (OR 10.08; 95% CI 10.01 to 10.15; p = 0.02). Conversely, preoperative statin therapy exerted a protective role (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.74; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Preoperative echocardiographic evaluation of patients with isolated CABG demonstrated that left atrium volume measurements were independently correlated to the occurrence of POAF. Further investigations should focus on the opportunity to target prophylactic antiarrhythmic treatments to patients with large left atrial volumes.

Effects of therapeutic ultrasound and paraffin with or without vacuum massage on biomechanical properties of grafted skin after burn: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of therapeutic ultrasound and paraffin with or without vacuum massage on the biomechanical properties of grafted skin after a burn. METHODS: A total of 44 patients with deep second- and third-degree burns, with a mean age of 35.89 (±11.53) years, who visited the Hospital Burn Unity, were included in the study. The therapeutic interventions were randomly defined by drawing lots, with a crossover design (crossover), and a minimum interval of 7 days (washout) between interventions. Skin biomechanical parameters such as distensibility (R0) and viscoelasticity (R6) were noninvasively evaluated by Cutometer before and after 0, 10, 20, and 30 min of intervention with therapeutic ultrasound and paraffin alone, as well as associated with negative pressure therapy of the skin (vacuum therapy). In this study, all groups showed increased distensibility (R0) in the period immediately after the application of the resources and a progressive reduction in the effects in the consecutive tests. Participants with skin grafts showed a decrease in viscoelasticity (R6) in all groups, except therapeutic paraffin and therapeutic ultrasound and vacuum massage. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical properties of grafted skin after a burn are altered after therapeutic intervention with ultrasound alone or associated with vacuum massage, such as intervention with paraffin associated with vacuum massage, for both parameters evaluated, skin distensibility (R0) and skin viscoelasticity (R6). However, the same did not occur for the intervention with isolated paraffin. There was no significant difference between the interventions therapeutic ultrasound and therapeutic paraffin.

Effect of an educational program on physical activity in individuals undergoing their first percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Educational programs designed for specific populations to improve regular physical activity need to be tested. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program, when compared to usual care, on improving physical activity 5 to 7 months after hospital discharge in adult patients undergoing their first percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial with two groups: usual care (n = 56) and educational program (n = 53) interventions. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected and the Baecke-Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, Self-efficacy Scale for Physical Activity, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered at baseline and follow-up. Participants in the educational program received an intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory, focused on physical activity, followed by three telephone calls. The usual care group received the hospital routine information. Unadjusted and adjusted differences between the two groups in mean score changes (with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) were calculated for all outcomes. RESULTS: At follow-up, the educational program group showed higher mean ± standard deviation scores than the usual care group for practice of physical activity (7.94 ± 1.84 vs. 6.90 ± 1.89) and for self-efficacy (3.98 ± 3.75 vs. 2.52 ± 3.12). Adjusting for baseline outcome, the difference in mean change between groups was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.46) for physical activity and 2.30 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.49) for self-efficacy. There were no statistical differences between groups in symptoms of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The educational program may be an effective intervention in increasing habitual physical activity and self-efficacy for physical activity in individuals with coronary artery disease.