title: Prescribing and conducting non-pharmacological management of patients with decompensated heart failure admitted to a university hospital emergency.
abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the prescription of non-pharmacological management of patients with heart failure attending the emergency care of a hospital and the effectiveness of the practice. 256 patients aged 63 ± 13 years, 153 (60%) men, participated in the research. The most commonly prescribed non-pharmacological treatment was sodium restriction, 240 (95%), followed by weight control, 135 (53%). Fluid restriction and fluid balance were the least commonly prescribed treatments, 95 (37%) and 72 (28%), respectively. Only 38 (54%) of balances, 89 (67%) of weight controls and 69 (57%) of diuresis controls were performed. Concerning patients' previous knowledge of the treatments, 229 (90%) were advised to restrict salt intake, and 163 (64%) were advised to restrict fluid intake. Weight control was the least commonly known care, 117 (46%). Except for salt control, the other treatments were prescribed in slightly more than half of the samples, and were ineffective.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joelza Chisté
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Linhares
authors.forename: Graziella Badin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Aliti
authors.forename: Raquel Azevedo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Eneida Rejane
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rabelo
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged