Relationship between improvements in heart failure patient disease specific knowledge and clinical events as part of a randomized controlled trial

Patient Educ Couns. 2012 Feb;86(2):233-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2011.05.019. Epub 2011 Jun 25.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the changes in performance on heart failure knowledge assessments administered before and after discharge education.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a 1-h, one-on-one teaching session with a nurse educator to the standard discharge process in patients with systolic heart failure. Patients completed a 30 point heart failure knowledge questionnaire (HFKQ) prior to and 3 months after the education intervention.

Results: Patients randomized to the nurse education intervention (n=113) demonstrated significantly higher total HFKQ score increases compared to patients receiving the standard discharge process (n=114) (median, IQR 1, 0 to 4 vs 0, -2 to 2, p=0.007). Patients experiencing death or rehospitalization in the subsequent 6 months were found to have significantly lower HFKQ scores (10, 7 to 12 vs 11, 8 to 13, p=0.002) compared to patients without a clinical event.

Conclusion: Heart failure nurse education at the time of hospital discharge results in improved patient knowledge and reduced risk of readmission.

Practice implications: Health care personnel should encourage education sessions for heart failure patients. Resources possibly need to be allocated for nurse led education sessions in heart failure patients as it improves outcomes and knowledge.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Heart Failure / nursing*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Discharge*
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk
  • Self Care / methods*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Survival Analysis