A telephone-delivered empowerment intervention with patients diagnosed with heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem. Case management by nurses using telephone follow-up has been suggested as a convenient and effective mechanism to promote the self-management of HF. Similarly, a patient empowerment approach to the management of chronic disease has been suggested as one that may nurture self-management in individuals with chronic illness.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a telephone-delivered empowerment intervention (EI) on clinically and theoretically relevant outcomes in patients with HF, including purposeful participation in goal attainment, self-management of HF, and perception of functional health. The EI was guided by Rogers' Science of Unitary Human Beings person-environment process.


METHODS
A convenience sample of men and women aged 21 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of HF was obtained from a metropolitan hospital located in the southwestern United States. The participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 45) or EI group (n = 45). All participants received standardized HF patient education; the intervention group also received an EI delivered through telephone follow-up calls from a registered nurse. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate intervention effects.


RESULTS
The telephone-delivered EI facilitated self-management of HF through self-care activities in EI group members.


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge gained from this study provides a beginning understanding of strategies to enhance health care providers' ability to facilitate self-management of HF among patients diagnosed with HF.
Shearer
Nelma B C
NB
Arizona State University College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA.
Cisar
Nancy
N
Greenberg
Edward A
EA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D010358:Patient Participation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012648:Self Care; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome