title: Heart failure patients' experiences of a self-management peer support program: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Explore the experiences of patients with heart failure in a self-management support program to inform the development of future interventions that support and motivate patients to engage in self-management.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Peer-support programs have led to improved outcomes among patients with other chronic conditions and may result in similar improvements for heart failure patients. Yet, among patients recently hospitalized for heart failure, over half had no or minimal engagement with a reciprocal peer support program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 28 patients (mean age 72; 71% Female; 21% African-American; 75% Caucasian) with different levels and types of engagement in a heart failure self-management support program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes that emerged included the importance of heart failure specific-social support, sharing information, comparing self to others, depression, and functional status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Useful services for heart failure patients provide comfort, restore confidence, and offer practical solutions.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Electronic address: elockhar@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor Veterans' Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor Veterans' Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor Veterans' Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heisler
mesh_terms: D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Heart failure; Peer support; Qualitative; Randomized controlled trial; Self-management