THE IMPACT OF NURSE–LED EDUCATION, ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE DURING CARDIAC REHABILITATION: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The complex mosaic of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in heart failure (HF) is composed of several "pieces": adherence to the rehabilitation program (Mazza & Paneroni, 2019), therapeutic education, improvement of perceived QoL and self–care (Deek et al., 2017). To improve the patient‘s QoL, however, it is imperative to position them at the focal point of the care process. Several studies, have documented the favorable impact of CR on QoL in HF patients (Conway et al., 2015). Although variations in therapeutic and rehabilitative treatment plans vary according to each stage of the disease, adopting lifestyle changes is a recommended strategy regardless of the stage of HF from which the person is affected (ACC/AHA 2005; Yancy et al., 2005). However, despite the evidence–based benefits of post–discharge interventions combined with patient education in HF patients, the specific impact and benefits of nurse–led patient education alone, independent of the broader health care system, remain still unclear. Objective This review aims to investigate the influence of the nurse‘s educational role on the quality of life of patients with HF in the setting of cardiac rehabilitation. Materials and Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, CIHNAL Complete and EMBASE. The review followed the PICO methodology, with the formulation of a research question. MeSH terms and keywords were combined using Boolean operators and inclusion criteria. The primary outcome of interest was improved QoL. Relevant articles were subjected to preliminary analysis on the Rayyan platform. They were first evaluated by title and abstract, then selected for full–text reading, and finally subjected to "quality appraisal". Results, Discussion and Conclusions Individuals with HF experience a decline in QoL and are at increased risk of poor prognosis, characterized by exacerbation episodes leading to frequent re–hospitalizations and increased mortality rates (Heo et al., 2009; Rechenberg et al., 2020; Freedland et al., 2021). Therefore, improving QoL in patients with HF is a priority from both care and organizational perspectives (Ades et al., 2013; Darkins et al., 2015). Notably, a tailored CR educational program helps to improve self–care management and, consequently, improve QoL. That highlights the importance of nurse–led CR for HF patients in improving health behaviors and adherence to therapeutic practices.