title: [Educating and communicating: non-pharmacologic treatment for patients with chronic heart failure?].
abstract: Chronic heart failure shows an increasing prevalence and extremely high rate of both hospital admission and readmission. Thus, in recent years there has been a growing interest in the development of more effective strategies for disease management. The existing literature shows programs involving multidisciplinary teams, specialized clinics, that employ a systematic approach and provide continuity of care, frequently involving a specialized nurse dedicated to comprehensive management. These experiences reported a favourable effects on clinically relevant outcome, including readmission, quality of care and cost of care. A recent randomized trial conducted by Krumholtz and colleagues emphasises the importance of patient's education and support intervention, without medical management components. This model was effective in reducing readmissions and in-hospital costs. On the basis of these data, patients education and support should be considered a "non-pharmacological therapy" for heart failure patients.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione S. Maugeri, Clinica del Lavoro e della Riabilitazione, IRCCS, Divisione di Cardiologia, Istituto Scientifico di Pavia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Feo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Opasich
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003142:Communication; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
vernacular_title: Educare e comunicare: terapie non farmacologiche per il paziente con scompenso cardiaco cronico?