Relationship between improvements in heart failure patient disease specific knowledge and clinical events as part of a randomized controlled trial

Objective

To examine the changes in performance on heart failure knowledge assessments administered before and after discharge education.

Methods

We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a 1-h, one-on-one teaching session with a nurse educator to the standard discharge process in patients with systolic heart failure. Patients completed a 30 point heart failure knowledge questionnaire (HFKQ) prior to and 3 months after the education intervention.

Results

Patients randomized to the nurse education intervention (n = 113) demonstrated significantly higher total HFKQ score increases compared to patients receiving the standard discharge process (n = 114) (median, IQR 1, 0 to 4 vs 0, −2 to 2, p = 0.007). Patients experiencing death or rehospitalization in the subsequent 6 months were found to have significantly lower HFKQ scores (10, 7 to 12 vs 11, 8 to 13, p = 0.002) compared to patients without a clinical event.

Conclusion

Heart failure nurse education at the time of hospital discharge results in improved patient knowledge and reduced risk of readmission.

Practice implications

Health care personnel should encourage education sessions for heart failure patients. Resources possibly need to be allocated for nurse led education sessions in heart failure patients as it improves outcomes and knowledge.