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The crucial role of patient education in heart failure
Author(s) -
Strömberg Anna
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2005.01.002
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , patient education , psychological intervention , health care , cognition , medical emergency , intensive care medicine , nursing , psychiatry , cardiology , economics , economic growth
Background: Deterioration of heart failure causes and complicates many hospital admissions in people aged over 65 years. Frequent readmissions cause an immense burden on the individual, the family and the health care system. Heart failure management programmes, in which patient education is an important component, have been shown to be effective in improving self‐care and reducing readmissions. Aim: This paper reviews the literature on the education of patients with heart failure. The paper addresses the level of knowledge in patients with heart failure, barriers to learning, learning needs, educational methods, goals and how the effects of patient education can be evaluated. Conclusion: Many patients had low levels of knowledge and lacked a clear understanding of heart failure and self‐care. Educational interventions need to be designed specifically for elderly patients and need to target barriers to learning such as functional and cognitive limitations, misconceptions, low motivation and self‐esteem. Health care professionals need to be skilled in assessing the requirements and level of education given to the individual. New technologies such as computer‐based education and telemonitoring can be used as tools to improve the education. Patient education is an important component of heart failure care and should be provided through effective and well‐evaluated strategies.