A quasi-experimental study examining a nurse-led education program to improve knowledge, self-care, and reduce readmission for individuals with heart failure. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Awoke, Martha S.; Baptiste, Diana-Lyn; Davidson, Patricia; Roberts, Allen; Dennison-Himmelfarb, Cheryl
• Is Part Of: Contemporary nurse. Volume 55:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: heart failure -- patient readmission -- knowledge -- self-care -- nurse-led education -- readmission; Nursing -- Periodicals -- Australia -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Nurses -- Australia -- Periodicals; 610.730994
• DOI: 10.1080/10376178.2019.1568198
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1037-6178

Abstract

Abstract : Background : Heart failure affects more than 6 million Americans and an estimated 23 million people worldwide. Inadequate self-care is associated with readmissions and are identified as a marker for poor health outcomes. Nurse-led heart failure inpatient hospital education has been demonstrated to improve knowledge, self-care behaviors and in some studies to reduce 30-day readmissions. Aims/Objectives : To evaluate the impact of nurse-led heart failure patient education on knowledge, self-care behaviors, and all cause 30-day hospital readmission. Design : Quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test on a convenient sample on two cardiac units at a large urban facility in the North East region of the United States. Methods : An evidence-based standardized heart failure patient education program based on the American Colleges of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines was implemented with a telephone follow-up at 7, 30, and 90 days post-discharge. The duration of the study was from September 2015 to February 2016. A convenience sample of ( N = 29) individuals diagnosed with heart failure was asked to complete Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale and Self-care Heart Failure Index. Results : A significant difference was found in knowledge at 7 day ( P ≤ .001) and 90 day ( P ≤ .032), self-care maintenance at 7 day ( P ≤ .000) and 30 day ( P ≤ .000), self-care management at 7 day ( P ≤ .001) and 30-day ( P ≤.013). A statistically significant difference was found in self-care confidence at 30-day ( P ≤ .017) but not at 7 day follow-up call. A statistically significant improvement in 30-day readmission was not found ( P ≥ .05). Conclusion : Findings suggest the importance of developing patient education programs that are focused on improving knowledge and self-care behaviors for heart failure patients. Nurses are uniquely qualified to implement such programs that can improve health outcomes and need to accommodate evidence-based recommendations to global practice settings.