title: Differences between heart failure clinics and primary health care.
abstract: There is a paucity of knowledge concerning how people with heart failure experience differences between specialised heart failure clinics and primary healthcare in Sweden. This study aimed to describe differences regarding information and follow-up in heart failure clinics and primary healthcare. The study was conducted in Sweden in 2011. Four people (three men, one woman; aged 60 to 84) with heart failure (NYHA II) were interviewed. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed after referral from the heart failure clinic to primary healthcare, follow-ups were omitted. Still, the patients needed care, support and information. The findings are illuminated in four themes. The patients' varying and individual needs can be difficult to recognise and manage unless they are followed-up from either HFC or PHC on a regular basis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Sörmland, Uppsala University, Sweden. lena.el.andersson@dll.se
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nordgren
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden