Pilot testing of a medication self-management transition intervention for heart failure patients.
This pilot study examined the impact of a hospital transition intervention for older adults (≥ 65 years of age) with heart failure (HF) to promote medication use self-management. Forty subjects, hospitalized with either primary or secondary HF, had a mean age of 76.9 ± 6.5 years; 65% were males. The majority of subjects (55%) had NYHA Class III HF. A prospective, repeated measures experimental design was used. Baseline and follow-up data (1- and 3-months after hospitalization) were obtained using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index, Brief Medication Questionnaire, Drug Regiment Unassisted Grading Scale, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Using repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with baseline measures as covariates, the transition intervention group had higher levels of medication adherence (F(1,35) = 13.4, p < .001), self-efficacy for HF self-care (F(1,35) = 17.9, p < .001) and had significantly fewer HF related symptoms that impaired health related quality of life (F(1,35) = 9.1, p = .006).
Barnason
Susan
S
University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing-Lincoln Division, Lincoln, NE 68588-0220, USA. sbarnaso@unmc.edu
Zimmerman
Lani
L
Hertzog
Melody
M
Schulz
Paula
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy