Information needs of patients with heart failure: Health professionals' perspectives

This study aimed to understand information needs of patients with heart failure from the perspectives of health professionals. The exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 2011. Face‐to‐face interviews were performed to collect data from 24 health professionals. Data were evaluated through content analysis. Information identified by health professionals as essential for patients' learning included risk factors and symptom management, prognosis, medication and lifestyle adjustment. Factors related to both patients and health professionals were recognized as barriers to information acquisition. Moreover, health professionals provided several recommendations for improving the health condition of patients. Information needs identified by health professionals, as well as actual needs expressed by patients, can be incorporated in health education. The effectiveness of educating patients can be improved by addressing needs perceived by both patients and health professionals.     

Perceived benefits of the disease: A qualitative study of patients' experiences of heart failure

Heart failure may bring about positive outcomes, which have not been adequately addressed in the literature. Therefore, this qualitative study sought to scrutinize the experiences of patients and the perceived positive effects of heart failure. The opinions of 19 patients with heart failure in Mashhad city (Iran) were collected via semistructured interviews from December 2017 to November 2018. After analyzing the data, six themes were identified by framework analysis: healthy lifestyle, effective interactions, appreciation of life, spirituality, reappraisal of life and priorities, and endurance. Such positive effects may lead to empowerment and better coping of patients with the disease. Therefore, nurses should consider the patients' perception of illness in addition to the disease manifestations and offer training focusing on the possibilities instead of limitations.     

Living with cardiac resynchronization therapy: Challenges for people with heart failure

The number of people with heart failure requiring implantation of a cardiac resynchronization device is increasing in Iran. Although this intervention is an effective life‐saving treatment, several challenges are associated with patients’ lifestyle after insertion. This study identified the challenges and coping mechanisms of Iranians with heart failure living with cardiac resynchronization therapy. A qualitative approach using conventional content analysis was adopted. Seventeen people with heart failure and three nurses were recruited between December 2014 and November 2015 from a teaching hospital and a private clinic in Rasht, Iran. Participants were interviewed using semi‐structured interviews lasting 30–60 min. Five themes emerged: (i) fear of implantation, (ii) the panic of receiving a shock from the device, (iii) lack of control over life, (iv) inadequacies of the healthcare system, and (v) psychosocial coping. A heightened understanding of these challenges and coping strategies could prepare healthcare professionals to provide better routine care, education, and support to the recipients of cardiac resynchronization therapy prior to implantation, during the recovery period, and for long‐term management.     

健康生态学视角下慢性心力衰竭患者健康管理需求的质性研究

目的 从健康生态学视角探讨慢性心力衰竭患者的健康管理需求,为构建科学有效的慢性心力衰竭健康管理模式提供依据。方法 采用质性研究中的现象学研究方法,对15例慢性心力衰竭患者进行半结构式访谈,并用Colaizzi七步分析法对访谈资料进行分析并提炼主题。结果 慢性心力衰竭患者健康管理需求可归纳为3个主题：患者个体自身需求(包括健康教育需求、自我健康促进需求、调控负性情绪需求、渴望独立需求);医疗卫生服务需求(包括便捷获取三甲医院医疗资源的需求、亟需提升社区卫生服务中心综合服务能力的需求、延续性支持需求);家庭社会支持需求(包括获得家庭支持的需求、获得同伴支持的需求、政策优化需求)。结论 针对慢性心力衰竭患者健康管理需求,应着力于提高患者健康管理依从性和社会支持,构建三甲医院-社区卫生服务中心联动机制,形成慢性心力衰竭健康管理长效维持机制。     

Spironolactone use in patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND: The addition of spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist, to standard therapy can reduce the risk of both morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of spironolactone in class III and IV heart failure patients in four urban teaching hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a concurrent medical record review of 163 patients with documented heart failure admitted to a general medicine service over a 5-week period. Data retrieved included patient demographics, heart failure class, left ventricular ejection fraction, spironolactone contraindications, spironolactone use, dose and frequency, and other heart failure medication use, dose and frequency. All data reflected patients' baseline status. RESULTS: Our patient population was 80% white people, 61% male, with a mean age of 70 years (35-99). A total of 114 had class III or IV heart failure (70%). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or appropriate alternative were prescribed in 117 (72%) patients, whereas beta-blockers were used in 121 (74%) patients. Fifty-seven patients met spironolactone ideal candidate criteria. Of these, eight (14%) were appropriately prescribed spironolactone. CONCLUSIONS: Three years after publication of the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study, spironolactone is underutilized in the treatment of heart failure. Results of this study indicated that the majority of patients in class III or IV heart failure were not prescribed spironolactone. Improvements in spironolactone prescribing are needed.     

左西孟旦治疗心力衰竭患者的护理

目的探讨左西孟旦治疗心力衰竭患者的护理要点。方法对6例使用左西孟旦治疗的心力衰竭患者的用药护理、不良反应的观察进行分析和总结。结果 5例患者使用左西孟旦后心力衰竭症状有所改善,6例患者1周后复查B型脑钠肽,均有不同程度的下降。不良反应主要有1例患者出现嗜睡症状。结论左西孟旦可降低心力衰竭患者的B型脑钠肽。临床护士对药物的作用机制、用药方法和不良反应的了解有利于指导护理人员进行正确有效的护理。     

Self-care behaviour of patients with heart failure

Heart failure-related self-care behaviour is important to optimize outcomes for patients with heart failure. Such behaviours include adherence to medication, diet and exercise, but self-care also refers to such things as seeking assistance when symptoms occur, and daily weighing. The study aim was to describe heart failure-related self-care behaviour, to test the effect of education and support on self-care behaviour and to discuss limitations. Data were collected from 128 heart failure patients during their hospital stay and at 1-, 3-, and 9-month follow-ups. Concepts from Orem's general theory of nursing were used to describe heart failure-related self-care behaviour and its limitations. The effects of intensive systematized and planned education from a nurse in hospital and at home were evaluated in an experimental design. Results showed that education enhanced self-care behaviour significantly at 1 and 3 months after discharge. Despite intensive education and support, patients did not manifest all self-care behaviours that might be expected. Patients in both the intervention and control groups described limitations in knowledge, judgement/decision-making and skills. It can be concluded that supportive-educative intervention is effective in enhancing heart failure-related self-care behaviour early after discharge. To optimize such intervention, more emphasis must be placed on behavioural strategies (e.g. self-medication), social support (e.g. from family members) and reinforcement (e.g. home visits).     

规范康复随访流程在出院慢性心力衰竭患者心脏康复随访中的应用效果研究

目的探讨规范康复随访流程在出院慢性心力衰竭患者心脏康复随访中的应用效果。方法将102例出院慢性心力衰竭患者分为对照组与干预组,对照组出院时接受常规康复指导和出院后随访,干预组采用依据临床护理路径管理模式制订的随访手册进行干预。两组患者分别于干预前、干预后第6周、第12周、第24周采用慢性病自我效能量表和心力衰竭生活质量量表进行调查。结果干预组的自我效能和生活质量得分均高于对照组(P0.01),且随着时间的延长均呈逐步升高趋势(P0.01)。结论应用规范康复随访流程对出院慢性心力衰竭患者进行心脏康复随访,可提升患者依从性,明显提高自我效能,改善生活质量。     

超声综合参数在慢性心力衰竭患者预后评估中的意义

目的 运用综合超声心动图多项参数的心力衰竭超声指数(HFEI)评价慢性心力衰竭(CHF)患者的整体心脏功能,并初步探讨HFEI在慢性心力衰竭患者CHF预后评估中的价值.方法 选择CHF患者118例和非CHF患者21例,运用HFEI评分,进行心功能分级;对CHF组患者进行随访,观察终点为全因死亡和因CHF恶化再入院.结果 CHF组HFEI明显高于对照组,并随纽约心功能分级增高而升高.死亡组与再入院组HFEI高于无事件生存组;HFEI为心力衰竭患者终点事件发生的独立预测因素.结论 HFEI可作为综合评价CHF患者心功能的可靠指标,并可用于CHF患者的预后评估     

测定慢性心力衰竭患者窦性心率震荡的临床意义

目的观察慢性心力衰竭患者窦性心率震荡(heart rate turbulence,HRT)的变化,以及与左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、心力衰竭积分的关系。方法共入选慢性心力衰竭患者83例。分别计算HRT初始值(TO)、震荡斜率(TS),对不同患者的TO、TS进行比较并分析TO和TS与LVEF、LVEDD和心力衰竭积分的相关性。结果随访12~22个月,平均(14±2)个月,死亡16例,因心力衰竭住院48例次。死亡患者与存活者相比TO显著升高[(2.4±1.2)%vs(0.9±1.2)%(P<0.001)],而TS显著降低[(2.3±0.7)ms/RRvs(3.0±0.9)ms/RR(P<0.001)];因心力衰竭住院患者与无住院患者相比TO显著升高[(1.9±1.3)%vs(0.3±0.7)%(P<0.001)],而TS显著降低[(2.5±0.9)ms/RRvs(3.4±0.8)ms/RR(P<0.001)]。应用β-受体阻滞剂的患者与未应用者相比TO显著降低,而TS显著升高,分别为(0.6±0.8)%vs(2.5±1.3)%和(3.2±0.8)ms/RRvs(2.2±0.8)ms/RR,均P<0.01;应用血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂的患者与没有应用者相比TO和TS无统计学意义,分别为(1.1±1.2)%vs(1.6±1.5)%和(2.9±0.9)ms/RRvs(2.8±1.0)ms/RR,均P>0.05。TO与LVEDD和心力衰竭积分呈显著正相关,与LVEF呈显著负相关;TS与LVEDD和心力衰竭积分呈显著负相关,与LVEF呈显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.62、0.74、-0.80、-0.46、-0.68和0.69,均P<0.01。结论慢性心力衰竭患者HRT现象减弱与心功能和预后密切相关,HRT可能成为预测慢性心力衰竭患者预后的一个新指标。     

左西孟坦治疗顽固性心力衰竭患者的疗效分析

目的评价对常规治疗(如利尿剂、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂和洋地黄类药物等)疗效不佳的顽固性心力衰竭患者,静脉注射左西孟坦的有效性及安全性。方法将2009年10月~2011年5月在本院住院的顽固性心力衰竭患者85例随机分为2组。2组患者均在抗心力衰竭治疗(根据个体化合理应用ACEI/ARB、β受体阻滞剂,利尿剂,洋地黄等)基础上,对照组给予多巴酚丁胺5μg/(kg.min)静脉维持泵入24 h;试验组给予左西孟坦注射液初始负荷量12μg/kg,注射时间10 min,随即以0.2μg/(kg.min)静脉维持泵入24 h;追踪观察14 d,综合评价药物的疗效和安全性。结果试验组的治疗总有效率显著优于对照组(P<0.01),治疗14 d后各项指标的变化较对照组明显改善(P<0.05)。结论与多巴酚丁胺相比,左西孟坦治疗顽固性心力衰竭疗效确切,安全性和患者耐受性良好。     

Psychometric properties of the MacNew heart disease health-related quality of life instrument in patients with heart failure

Rationale, aims and objectives Heart failure (HF) is a severe chronic disease and impairs health‐related quality of life (HRQL). While validated specific HRQL instruments are required for evaluation of treatment and rehabilitation in patients with HF, a single validated measure to document changes in HRQL for patients with different heart disease diagnoses would be invaluable. The purpose of this analysis was the psychometric analysis of the German MacNew Heart Disease Questionnaire (MacNew) in HF patients, which has previously been shown to be reliable and valid in patients with myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and arrhythmia. Methods We recruited 89 patients (61.7 ± 11.5 years; 84.3% male) in two Austrian and one Swiss cardiology department with documented HF (effect sizes 28.9 ± 10.1%). The self‐administered MacNew, the Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were completed. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α), discriminative and evaluative validity were assessed. Results Cronbach's α exceeded 0.80. Each MacNew scale differentiated between patients with and without anxiety (3.9 ± 1.0 vs. 5.3 ± 0.8, all P < 0.001), with and without depression (4.2 ± 1.2 vs. 5.2 ± 0.9 all P < 0.03) and by the SF‐36 health transition item (deteriorate = 4.39, no change = 4.95, improve = 5.45, all P < 0.02). Evaluative validity was demonstrated with effect sizes >0.70 for a subsample attending a 12‐week outpatient rehabilitation programme. Conclusions The German language version of the MacNew demonstrates consistently acceptable psychometric properties of reliability, validity and responsiveness in patients with documented HF. Together with previous documentation of reliability, validity and responsive, these findings strengthen the argument for the MacNew as a potential ‘core’ HRQL measure, at least in the German language.