The Effect of Family-Centered Education on the Quality of Life of Reproductive Age Women with a History of Heart Valve Replacement

Background: Patients undergoing surgical replacement of cardiac valves face various physical, psychological, and social problems. This situation leads to changes in quality of life parameters, especially in women of reproductive ages. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of family-centered education on the quality of life of women of reproductive age with a history of cardiac valve replacement. Methods: This randomized intervention-control prospective study was performed on 62 patients and their companions. Participants were selected in terms of inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to control and test groups. First, the quality of life questionnaire participants completed SF-36. Then, the test group received a family-centered education program in four sessions. Immediately after the intervention and one month later, we measured patients’ quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 using Chi-square, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon, and Friedman test. Results: The results of the Friedman test showed that the mean score of total quality of life was significantly different in the intervention group (P = 0.02), but this difference was not significant in the control group (P = 0.23).  Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, family-centered education can improve the quality of life of women of reproductive age with a history of cardiac valve replacement. The purposeful, scientific, and guided family interactions with the patient and the patients’ close relationship and dependence on relatives and families can be considered the leading cause of this effect.