Randomized, Single Center Study About the Impact of an E-learning Dedicated to Myocardial Infarction Patient

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbi-mortality in industrialized countries. Risk of recurrence after appropriate treatment is particularly frequent in patients with inadequate observance. Secondary prevention is therefore essential to reduce the morbi-mortality of high-risk cardiovascular patients. Risk factor control and lifestyle interventions are important for these high-risk patients to reduce the overall incidence of cardiac disease. To treat these risk factors and for secondary prevention after a cardiovascular event, some medications have been shown to be efficient and European guidelines have been written to enhance evidence-based medicine prescriptions for STEMI and NSTEMI. Despite this, concerns have been postulated about patient's self-adherence to these treatments. A study has shown a long-term adherence to medications of 71% for Aspirin, 46% for β-blockers and 44% for Lipid-lowering therapy for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients. Non-adherence has been associated with increased morbi-mortality in this population.

Therefore, a variety of interventions was identified to enhance patient adherence to medication in the cardiovascular field. These strategies included:

• Informational intervention (mailed information)
• Sending reminder postcards, illustrated daily medication schedule distribution
• Counseling on the importance of adherence to their cardiovascular medication and review of each medication during the hospital stay
• Clinical pharmacist intervention with medication reconciliation, medication education, facilitation of the delivery of discharge medications, and post-discharge telephone call within 48-72h These interventions showed an impact on long-term medication adherence and health literacy, which could lead to an improvement of the morbi-mortality of cardiovascular risk patients.

In a previous study conducted at the University hospital of Lausanne, the investigators showed a very high prescription rate of guidelines-recommended medications for patients involved in the CHUV STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) network. Therefore, the next step to reduce the morbi-mortality of high-risk cardiovascular patients is to enhance patient adherence to the cardiovascular drug regimen. Patient education is known as an effective process to enhance drug adherence. Unfortunately, patient education is difficult to implement because of it costs and for the time needed to educate the patient. The investigator's aim at testing a new approach using an e-learning tool for patient education purpose. The e-learning will be interactive and easy to use. It will inform the patient about his heart disease (acute coronary syndrome) and about his medications in a short time.