Abstract:
The objective of this descriptive correlational research was to identify factors related to fear of illness progression among patients with first diagnosing of acute myocardial infarction. A multiple stage sampling of 213 patients with first diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction were recruited from cardiovascular outpatients department after discharge from Police General Hospital, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Siriraj Hospital. Data were collected using sis questionnaires for patient with first diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction: 1) Demographic data form, 2) Perceived chest pain questionnaire, 3) Coronary Artery Disease Education Questionnaire short version, 4) Social support questionnaire, 5) Self efficacy questionnaire, and 6) Fear of illness progression questionnaire Short Form. All questionnaire were tested for their content validity by five experts. Reliability were .99, .71, .89, .88, and .89 respectively. Data were analyzed using Pearsons product correlation coefficient statistics. The findings were presented as follow: 1. Mean score of social support among patients with first diagnosing of acute myocardial infarction was at high level (Mean = 62.54, SD = 11.74). Mean score of severity of illness, knowledge, self efficacy, and fear of illness progress were at moderate level (Mean = 11.36, SD = 5.67; Mean = 11.34, SD = 3.49; Mean = 31.52, SD = 7.31, and Mean = 26.93, SD = 10.22, respectively). 2. The variable was significant positively descriptive correlated to fear of illness progression among patients with first diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.It was severity of illness (r = .196). Such as Self efficacy (r = -.367) significant negatively descriptive correlated to fear of illness progression among patients with first diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction at the .05