Computer-based education for patients with chronic heart failure. A randomised, controlled, multicentre trial of the effects on knowledge, compliance and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of a single-session, interactive computer-based educational program on knowledge, compliance and quality of life in heart failure patients with special emphasis on gender differences.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-four patients, mean age 70 years, from five heart failure clinics were randomised to either receiving only standard education (n=72) or standard education and additional computer-based education (n=82).


RESULTS
Knowledge was increased in both groups after 1 month with a trend towards higher knowledge (P=0.07) in the computer-based group. The increase in knowledge was significantly higher in the computer-based group after 6 months (P=0.03). No differences were found between the groups with regard to compliance with treatment and self-care or quality of life. The women had significantly lower quality of life and did not improve after 6 months as the men did (P=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Computer-based education gave increased knowledge about heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Computers can be a useful tool in heart failure education, but to improve compliance a single-session educational intervention is not sufficient. Gender differences in learning and quality of life should be further evaluated.
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. annst@imv.liu.se
Anna
A
Strömberg
Ulf
U
Dahlström
Bengt
B
Fridlund
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D016251:CD-ROM; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014584:User-Computer Interface