Knowledge and use of sublingual nitroglycerin and cardiac-related quality of life in patients with chronic stable angina

Relationships among sublingual nitroglycerin (SLN) knowledge and use, gener al aspects of angina self-management, and quality of life were investigated in 95 patients with angina (age 63 +/- 11 years). Quality of life was meas ured using a reliable and valid questionnaire, the Seattle Angina Questionn aire. Older age (p = 0.04), male gender (p = 0.0001), more recent diagnosis with coronary artery disease (p = 0.02), and distant recall of SLN instruc tion (it,= 0.02) Predicted Poorer SLN knowledge (R-2 = 0.26, p < 0.001). Ma le gender (p = 0.001) predicted more difficulty with SLN use (R-2 = 0.15, p = 0.005). A "bad" experience with SLN was associated with poorer quality o f life (r = -22, p = 0.047). Sixty-five percent lacked knowledge about usin g SLN to prevent symptoms and 32.6% took SLN for symptoms other than chest lain. Findings support the need for more frequent reinforcement of patient education, especially in the areas of preventive use of SLN and side effect management. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2000.