Abstract 12114: Effects of an Educational Intervention on Disease Knowledge and Self-care Behaviors of Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: In this randomized clinical trial, we tested the effects of an educational intervention designed to improve disease knowledge and self-care behaviors of patients with heart failure (HF). Methods: Patients with HF (n=602; 41% female, age 66.1 ± 12.9 years) were randomized into control (usual care) or 1 of 2 intervention groups: Fluid Watchers LITE (LITE) or Fluid Watchers PLUS (PLUS). Patients in both intervention groups received face-to-face education on HF self-care led by a nurse, and then received either 2 follow-up phone calls (LITE group) or biweekly calls until they demonstrated content competency (PLUS group). The levels of HF knowledge and self-care behaviors were measured with self-report questionnaires at baseline and 3, 12, and 24 months. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-models. Results: The 3 groups were not significantly different in their HF knowledge and self-care at baseline. Significant group-by-time interactions were found in models for knowledge and self-care (Figure). Both intervention groups showed improvement in HF knowledge at 3 months, but the improvement lasted only in the PLUS group throughout 24 months. Both intervention groups exhibited significantly better self-care behaviors at 3 and 12 months compared with the control group. The intervention effects on self-care remained stable in both groups, but were not significant at 24 months. Results were similar when covariates (i.e., socioeconomic characteristics and baseline psychological status) were controlled in the models. Conclusions: The face-to-face educational intervention was effective in improving disease knowledge and self-care behaviors among patients with HF. Both intervention groups showed improvement in knowledge and self-care at 3 months, and their effects on self-care remained significant until 12 months. In addition, the intervention with more follow-up calls resulted in greater and more sustained improvement in knowledge about HF.