title: A nurse-based management program in heart failure patients affects females and persons with cognitive dysfunction most.
abstract: It is important that congestive heart failure (CHF) patients know how to monitor and manage disease-associated signs and symptoms. CHF patients were randomised to follow-up at a nurse-based outpatient clinic (intervention group (IG); n = 103), or to follow-up in primary healthcare (control group (CG); n = 105). Patient knowledge of CHF and self-care were assessed by a questionnaire and cognitive function by a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and at six months. Men knew more about CHF as compared to females at baseline (p < 0.01). However, females in the IG increased their knowledge of self-care between baseline and six months as compared to CG females (p < 0.05). Patients with cognitive dysfunction (MMSE < 24) presented lower scores on knowledge as compared to those with a MMSE of >24 at baseline (p < 0.01). These differences disappeared after the intervention. Thus, females seemed to gain more than men from a nurse-based management program and patients with in-hospital signs of cognitive dysfunction should be encouraged to participate.
authors: Division of Internal Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. monica.rydell-karlsson@ds.se
authors: Monica Rydell
authors: MR
authors: Karlsson
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Edner
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Henriksson
authors: Märit
authors: M
authors: Mejhert
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Persson
authors: Mikaela
authors: M
authors: Grut
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Billing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric