Heart Failure Articles
Feasibility of a group-based self-management program among congestive heart failure patients
This study assessed the feasibility of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) among patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The program emphasizes patients' central role and responsibility in managing their illness.Testing a model of patient characteristics, psychologic status, and cognitive function as predictors of self-care in persons with chronic heart failure
Self-care is a key component in the management of chronic heart failure (CHF). Yet there are many barriers that interfere with a patient's ability to undertake self-care. The primary aim of the study was to test a conceptual model of determinants of CHF self-care. Specifically, we hypothesized that cognitive function and depressive symptoms would predict CHF self-care.Addressing spouses' unique needs after cardiac surgery when recovery is complicated by heart failure
Cardiac surgery places extensive stress on spouses who often are more worried than the patients themselves. Spouses can experience difficult and demanding situations when the partner becomes critically ill.Adherence to self-care behavior and factors related to this behavior among patients with heart failure in Japan
Adherence to self-care behavior is important for patients with heart failure (HF) to prevent exacerbation of HF. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence, identify associated factors, and clarify the impact of previous HF hospitalizations on adherence in outpatients with HF.Depressed patients understand heart failure prognosis but not how to control it
Depression prevalence in patients with heart failure (HF) is 21% to 42%. Conceptual illness beliefs that patients have about HF may be associated with depression.Health consequences of partner distress in couples coping with heart failure
Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with psychologic distress for patients and their spouses. Although research indicates that a patient's distress can influence the course of illness, less is known about possible effects of a spouse's distress on the patient or of a patient's distress on the health of the spouse.Self-care and depression in patients with chronic heart failure
Although chronic heart failure (CHF) is often complicated by comorbid depression and poor self-care, little is known about their specific association in patients with CHF.Are we teaching what patients need to know? Building skills in heart failure self-care
Heart failure (HF) self-care requires both knowledge and skill, but little attention has been given to identify how to improve skill in HF self-care. The objective was to assess what self-care skills patients with HF perceive that they need and how they developed the skills needed to perform self-care.Reasons for readmission in heart failure: Perspectives of patients, caregivers, cardiologists, and heart failure nurses
Despite efforts to improve outcomes in heart failure (HF), readmission rates remain relatively high. Reasons for readmission from different perspectives (patient, caregiver, health care providers) may help to optimize the future management of patients with HF. The aims of this study are to 1) gain insight into reasons for HF readmission from the perspective of patients, caregivers, cardiologists, and HF nurses; 2) examine similarities and differences in perspectives on the reason for an HF readmission, and 3) describe possibilities to prevent an HF readmission from different perspectives.Diastolic heart failure
Diastolic heart failure (DHF) is estimated to occur in 40% to 50% of patients with heart failure. Evidence suggests that DHF is primarily a cardiogeriatric syndrome that increases from approximately 1% at age 50 years to 10% or more at 80 years. DHF is also more likely to occur in older women who are hypertensive or diabetic. Although survival is better in patients with DHF compared with systolic heart failure, mortality rates for patients with DHF are four times higher than those for healthy, community-dwelling older adults.Veterans' decision-making preferences and perceived involvement in care for chronic heart failure
Patients with heart failure require a great deal of information about their disease, but it is also important to know about their preferences for involvement in medical decision making and about factors that may influence their preferences so that patients' needs, values, and preferences can be met by clinicians.Quality of life in patients with heart failure: Ask the patients
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive clinical condition that results in substantial impairment of quality of life (QOL). Helping patients maintain optimal QOL is essential. QOL reflects patients' subjective perceptions about the impact of a clinical condition and its treatment on daily life; however, definitions in the literature vary widely and few reflect the patient's perspective.Sexual self-concept, anxiety, and self-efficacy predict sexual activity in heart failure and healthy elders
Little is known about sexual activity in patients with heart failure (HF), and existing evidence suggests that sexual activity is adversely affected.Testing the psychometric properties of the Medication Adherence Scale in patients with heart failure
Many factors may contribute to medication nonadherence in heart failure (HF), but no standard measure exists to evaluate factors associated with nonadherence. To fill this gap, we developed the Medication Adherence Scale (MAS) and tested its reliability and validity in patients with HF.Qualitative analysis of a mutual goal-setting intervention in participants with heart failure
The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing self-management in patients with heart failure. Themes were determined by examining the review of the Goal Attainment Follow-up Guide and anecdotal records made by nurse interventionists during their implementation of mutual goal setting for the study of participants with heart failure.The effect of shared medical visits on knowledge and self-care in patients with heart failure: A pilot study
Patients with heart failure need education and support to improve knowledge and self-care. Shared medical groups that provide education and support have been successful in other patient populations. This study compares an advanced practice nurse-led shared medical appointment intervention in the office setting with standard care relative to self-care and knowledge among community-living adults with heart failure.Changes in psychosocial distress in outpatients with heart failure with implantable cardioverter defibrillators
Patients given implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) after arrhythmic events or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) experience psychosocial distress. ICDs now are inserted for the primary prevention of SCA in patients with heart failure; the psychosocial impact of ICDs on patients with heart failure is unknown. Changes in psychosocial status in these ICD recipients were examined. ICD recipients (n = 57) completed depression, anxiety, and social support inventories every 6 months for up to 2 years.Demonstration of psychometric soundness of the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire in patients with heart failure
Recommendation of a low-sodium diet is the most common nonpharmacologic intervention used in patients with heart failure (HF). However, nonadherence to this recommendation is extremely high. There are no instruments available for the specific measurement of patients' perceptions of their barriers to, and attitudes toward, following a low-sodium diet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a new instrument, the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ). Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the DSRQ assesses adherence through the use of 3 subscales.“They diagnosed bad heart”: A qualitative exploration of patients' knowledge about and experiences with heart failure
Patient education is central to the management of individuals with heart failure; therefore, it is important to know what these patients understand and experience both clinically and personally.Management of acute decompensated heart failure in an evidence-based era: What is the evidence behind the current standard of care?
Despite the increased mortality and morbidity in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), its management has been based primarily on anecdotal experiences and physiologic assumptions rather than on prospective randomized controlled trials. The data on diuretics have been conflicting. Routine use of inotropes in ADHF has been clearly associated with increased mortality and morbidity, although inotropes seem to cause short-term clinical improvement. The safety of the different vasoactive medications has never been adequately confirmed in prospective trials despite their use for a long time in heart failure.Fatigue in older adults with stable heart failure
The purpose of this study was to describe fatigue and the relationships among fatigue intensity, self-reported functional status, and quality of life in older adults with stable heart failure.Clinical exacerbations as a surrogate end point in heart failure research
We examined the utility of an index of clinical exacerbations of heart failure (HF) as a surrogate measure of outcome for use in modestly sized clinical trials and observational studies.Factors influencing medication adherence in patients with heart failure
The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing adherence to the prescribed medical regimen in patients with heart failure (HF).
