title: Educational needs of patients with advanced heart failure and their caregivers.
abstract: At the time of initial transplant evaluation, we evaluated the information and counseling needs of 82 outpatients with advanced heart failure and compared them with the needs of 74 of their caregivers. Both groups answered a 23-item questionnaire, which used a 5-point Likert scale to assess needs across 6 sub-scales specific to heart failure and the process of determining transplant eligibility. The 5 most important learning needs of patients and caregivers were similar, and we found significant differences only in the groups' responses to 3 individual questions. We conclude that nurses can meet the needs of patients and their caregivers by providing honest explanations, focusing on enhanced quality of life issues, and giving information for dealing with an emergency.
authors.affiliation: Ahmanson Cardiomyopathy Clinic, University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90095-1679, USA. jcreaser@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walden
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dracup
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westlake
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fonarow
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D004630:Emergencies / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires