Improvement of Young and Elderly Patient's Knowledge of Heart Failure After an Educational Session.
BACKGROUND
Interest in the role of patient education sessions for optimizing the management of heart failure (HF) is increasing. We determined whether improvements in young and elderly patients' knowledge of HF and self-care behavior could be analyzed by administering a knowledge test before and after an educational session.


METHODS
Stable heart failure patients (n = 115) were enrolled in a prospective cohort study from our Heart Failure educational centre in a university hospital. Patient knowledge of six major HF-related topics was assessed via a questionnaire distributed once before an educational session and twice afterward. Each answer was assigned a numerical value and the final score for each topic could range from 0 to 20. Scores >/= 15/20 were considered representative of a good level of knowledge.


RESULTS
The level of knowledge was low (9.7/20) before the educational session but was significantly higher (16.3/20) during the 1st quarter after the session, and this benefit was maintained for up to 12 months (16.6/20). Knowledge levels increased in both younger and elderly patients, and the number of patients who had a good level of knowledge also increased after the educational session.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that an HF knowledge test is feasible and that educational sessions improve the knowledge and self-management of both younger and elderly patients.
Roncalli
Jérôme
J
Rangueil University Hospital, Department of Cardiology and Heart Failure Educational Centre (Centre d'Education pour Patient Insuffisant Cardiaque (CEPIC)), Toulouse, France.
Perez
Laurence
L
Pathak
Atul
A
Spinazze
Laure
L
Mazon
Sandrine
S
Lairez
Olivier
O
Curnier
Daniel
D
Fourcade
Joëlle
J
Elbaz
Meyer
M
Carrié
Didier
D
Puel
Jacques
J
Fauvel
Jean-Marie
JM
Galinier
Michel
M