Long-term implications of a single home-based educational intervention in patients with heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a single home-based educational intervention for patients admitted with heart failure.


METHODS
There were 106 patients: 42 in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. Patients were randomly assigned to receive an intervention by nursing staff 1 week after discharge. Primary end points were readmissions, emergency department visits, deaths, costs, and quality of life.


RESULTS
During the 24-month follow-up, there were fewer mean emergency department visits in the intervention group than in the control group (.68 vs 2.00; P = .000), fewer unplanned readmissions (.68 vs 1.71; P = .000), and lower costs (€ 671.56 = $974.63 = GBP598.42 per person vs € 2,154.24 = $3,126.01 = GBP1,919.64; P = .001). There was a trend toward fewer out-of-hospital deaths (14 [46.6%] vs 31 [55.3%]; P = .45) and improvement in quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with heart failure who receive a home-based educational intervention experience fewer emergency department visits and unplanned readmissions with lower healthcare costs.
Aguado
Ofelia
O
Internal Medicine Service, Sagrat Cor University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
Morcillo
Cèsar
C
Delàs
Jordi
J
Rennie
Mark
M
Bechich
Siraj
S
Schembari
Anna
A
Fernández
Francesc
F
Rosell
Franscesc
F
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017046:Cost Savings; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010358:Patient Participation; D011788:Quality of Life; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors