Date of Award
Spring 5-27-2017
Document Type
Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscript
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Karen Macauley, PhD, DNP, MSN
Abstract
This evidence-based project aimed to improve self-care and decrease the 30-day readmission rates in cardiology clinic heart failure (HF) patients. Thirty-day HF readmission rates, pose a financial burden to hospitals and consistent patient engagement and education in self-care among HF patients can decrease health care utilization, reduce mortality and improve quality of life. Patients received HF education during the first post-discharge clinic visit followed by weekly telephone calls. The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) was administered to assess baseline knowledge of the self-care and reevaluated at the end of 30 and 90 days. None of the participants were readmitted within 30 days including all cause readmissions. Enhanced SCHFI questionnaire knowledge scores were seen at one month and three months indicating higher levels of knowledge of HF care. At one month, there was a 24% increase in knowledge scores in maintenance, 22.6% increase in management and 29.3% increase in confidence scale. At the end of 3 months there were 29%, 39% and 35% increase in maintenance, management and confidence scales respectively. The evidence-based project held in a cardiology clinic was successful in its efforts to decrease the 30-day readmissions rate and improved self-care and knowledge of heart failure among the participants.
Key words: heart failure, self-care management, decreases 30-day readmissions
Digital USD Citation
Rebello, SIble, "Improving Self-Care Management in Heart Failure Patients" (2017). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts. 47.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dnp/47
Acknowledgements