title: The Self-care Educational Intervention for Patients With Heart Failure: A Study Protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A variety of educational interventions have been implemented to assist patients with heart failure (HF) to maintain their own health, develop self-care behaviors, and decrease readmissions. The most effective approach to education has yet to be established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a multimedia educational intervention for patients with HF in reducing hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes include changes in knowledge and self-care behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial in a large tertiary referral hospital in Australia has recruited 200 patients and will follow them for 12 months. Patients diagnosed with HF have been randomly allocated 1:1 to either usual education or a multimedia educational intervention. Framed by the principles of adult learning, this individualized intervention was delivered face to face by a specialized HF nurse, with a targeted educational assessment and subsequent development of an educational plan. The multimedia approach combined viewing a DVD and verbal discussion supported by a written manual. The teach-back strategy at the conclusion of the intervention evaluated the patient's learning through 5 key questions about self-management of HF. Readmissions are assessed at 28 days, 3 months, and 12 months. Knowledge and self-care behavior are assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study evaluates the effectiveness of a targeted multimedia educational intervention. Study results may inform the design of in-hospital education for HF patients.
authors.affiliation: Mary Boyde, PhD Nurse Researcher, Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland, Australia. Robyn Peters, MN(NP) Nurse Practitioner, Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and Adjunct Associate Lecturer, University of Queensland, Australia. Rita Hwang, MHlthSc (Cardiopulm Phty) Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital/University of Queensland, Australia. Dariusz Korczyk, FRACP Senior Staff Consultant, Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital/Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland, Australia. Tina Ha, GradDipClinPharm Pharmacist, Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia. Nicole New, MAdvNPrac Clinical Nurse Consultant, Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyde
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korczyk
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: New
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019212:Multimedia; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012648:Self Care