BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Training the patients and their follow-up after discharge from coronary care units (CCU) play a significant role in their rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate the effect of telephone follow-up programs after hospital discharge on hope and the quality of life in patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) in Social Security Hospitals in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran.

METHODS: In this case-control study, 60 patients (30 patients in control group and 30 patients in case group) were randomly selected among patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) in Social Security Hospitals in Mazandaran. Data collection was done using Hope Miller questionnaire containing 48 questions and World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire containing 26 questions. All patients were provided with the required training before discharge while the case group received an additional one-month telephone follow-up. Finally, the two groups were compared in terms of hope and quality of life, one month after discharge.

FINDINGS: At the time of discharge, the two groups were almost identical in terms of hope and quality of life. However, after one month, hope (155±33 in case group and 138±25 in control group) and quality of life (87±15 in case group and 75±11 in control group) improved significantly in case group (p=0.025 and p=0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrated that telephone follow-up for patients discharged from CCU significantly improves their hope and quality of life. Therefore, telephone follow-up needs to be considered as an accessible and low-cost method to improve the quality of life and hope in patients with heart disease.