CONGRESS ABSTRACT

Background The perioperative phase of cardiac surgery is a highly vulnerable period for patients and caregivers, frequently marked by anxiety, emotional distress and uncertainty regarding the intra- and postoperative course.These factors may negatively affect treatment adherence, symptom appraisal and the management of early post-discharge events, contributing to unplanned Emergency Department (ED) presentations and readmissions.Most educational strategies are patient-centred and do not consider the patient–caregiver dyad as the true unit of care.We evaluated the impact of a structured, multimedia joint education program on clinically relevant outcomes. Methods Prospective controlled study in elective valvular/CABG patients.The intervention group attended a standardized joint patient–caregiver meeting delivered by a dedicated cardio-thoracic team and focused on the intra-/postoperative pathway (ICU course, tubes and drains, pain control, mobilization, therapy management, lifestyle recommendations and warning signs).The session was supported by uniform video material and printed pathway brochures to ensure reproducibility and coherence of information.Controls received usual preoperative information.Primary endpoints were unplanned ED visits and 30-day readmissions; unplanned visits were additionally classified, according to predefined clinical criteria, as appropriate or potentially inappropriate. Medication adherence was assessed at first follow-up.Secondary endpoints included anxiety (STAI-Y), a standardized education knowledge score, perceived informational coherence and caregiver satisfaction. Results A total of 240 patients were enrolled (120 intervention, 120 control), with balanced baseline characteristics.The program reduced unplanned ED visits (8.3% vs 21.7%; p<0.01), with a marked decrease in visits classified as potentially inappropriate, and lowered 30-day readmissions (6.0% vs 12.5%; p=0.04).Medication adherence improved (94% vs 76%; p<0.01), while anxiety decreased and knowledge increased in the intervention group (both p<0.001).Benefits were consistent across educational strata, with the greatest gains in lower-education dyads. Conclusions A reproducible multimedia dyad-centred education program reduces perioperative anxiety and improves early post-discharge management, adherence and use of emergency resources after cardiac surgery, supporting its integration into routine preoperative pathways as a low-cost, high-impact component of quality of care