BACKGROUND: There is still recrudescent risk in the convalescence stage of the acute myocardial infarction and the living condition is relatively poor. The study proved that it has relation to that the patients haven't mastered the scientific conformable life style for the myocardial infarction recovery.OBJECTIVE: Take the rehabilitation education to help the patients set up conformable life style so as to improve the quality of life.DESIGN: The patients in the convalescence stage of the acute myocardial infarction were chosen for the control study.SETTING: Nursing Institute of Beijing Medical University and two university hospitals.PARTICIPANTS: The cases were taken from the Cardiology Departm ents of the Second and Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Medical University from April 1999 to November 1999. Inclusive standard: the first onset of the acute myocardial infarction and voluntary for this study. Exclusive standard: not the first onset of the acute myocardial infarction. The control group contained 35 patients hospitalized from April 1999 to June 1999 conforming to the including standard. The experimental group contained 40 patients hospitalized from August 1999 to November 1999 conforming to the including standard. After eliminating the special unmatched cases and missed follow-up cases in the experimental group, the final 30 cases were respectively involved in the both groups. There were 23 male cases and 7 female cases in the control group with the mean age of(60 ± 14), and 22 male cases and 8 female cases in the experimental group with the mean age of(62 ± 10) . There was no significant difference in the age and sex in these two groups.METHODS: The Neuman health care system pattern was taken as the theoretical frame for the rehabilitation education of the patients in the convalescent stage of the acute myocardial infarction. That is the conver genceteaching and personal illustration accompanied the rehabilitation education hand books were adopted for the rehabilitation education in the experimental group before their leaving. Then the telephone education was taken for further direction and consultation during the first three months after being discharged. The evaluation information was obtained through the follow-up after the first three months.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The quality of life and dimensions in the two groups.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the scores of the quality of life, the dimensions of the body, the psychology, the duty role and the health consciousness in the experimental group were all significantly higher(t= 11.03,3.26,3.62,2.05,15.48, P < 0. 05), while there was no significant difference in the social degree( P > 0.05) .CONCLUSION: The rehabilitation education can significantly improve the quality of life of the patients in the convalescence stage of the acute myocardial infarction.