Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the effects of a supportive educational nursing intervention on self-care abilities, self-care behavior, and quality of life of patients with advanced heart failure.
DESIGN: The study design was an experimental, random assignment.
SETTING: The study was located at the University Hospital in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
PATIENTS: The study included 179 patients (mean age 73 years, 58% men, New York Heart Association classification III and IV) admitted to a university hospital with symptoms of heart failure.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included self-care abilities (Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale), self-care behavior (Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale), 3 dimensions of quality of life (functional capabilities, symptoms, and psychosocial adjustment to illness), and overall well-being (Cantril's ladder of life).
INTERVENTION: The intervention patients received systematic education and support by a nurse in the hospital and at home. Control patients received routine care.
RESULTS: Self-care abilities did not change as a result of the intervention, but the self-care behavior in the intervention group was higher than the self-care behavior in the control group during follow-up. The effect of the supportive educational intervention on quality of life was limited. The 3 dimensions of quality of life improved after hospitalization in both groups, with no differences between intervention and control group as measured at each follow-up measurement. However, there was a trend indicating differences between the 2 groups in decrease in symptom frequency and symptom distress during the 9 months of follow-up.
CONCLUSION: A supportive educational nursing intervention is effective in improving self-care behavior in patients with advanced (New York Heart Association class III-IV) heart failure; however, a more intensive intervention is needed to show effectiveness in improving quality of life.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 319-330 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Heart & lung : the journal of critical care |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adaptation, Psychological
- Aged
- Female
- Heart Failure/rehabilitation
- Humans
- Male
- Patient Education as Topic
- Quality of Life
- Self Care
- Severity of Illness Index
- Social Adjustment