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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of reinforced walking exercise on dyspnea-fatigue symptoms, daily activities, walking ability and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in heart failure patients. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled trial design. The participants (experimental group=16, control group=25) were recruited from a university hospital in Kyeong-nam area. Data were collected from March to September, 2015. The reinforced walking exercise included goal setting and feedback (telephone and text message) provided for 12 weeks. Dyspnea-Fatigue Index, Korean Activity Scale/Index (KASI), six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and HRQoL were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Fisher's exact test, χ² test, and Kolmogrove-Smirnov test. Results: Prior to the intervention there were no differences in the research variables between two groups. The exercise compliance in the experimental group was 100% (walking for 50 minutes per day, 5 times per week). The experimental group had improved dyspnea-fatigue symptoms (t=8.63, p<.001), daily activities p<.001), p<.001), and increased HRQoL (t=-9.05, p<.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The reinforced walking exercise could be a cost-effective intervention in heart failure patient, which could enhance patients' outcomes, such as improving dyspnea-fatigue symptoms, daily activities, walking ability, and quality of life.

Objective: To assess heart failure (HF) knowledge, adherence to lifestyle recommendations, and quality of life (QOL) among Koreans with HF and identify factors influencing QOL. Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational design was used and a total of 142 Koreans with HF were recruited between April 2012 and September 2013. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression with SPSS version 21.0. Results: The mean age of participants was 64.1 ± 7.4 years. A higher proportion of participants were male, married, unemployed, had a high education level, and class I New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional status. A higher proportion of participants had ≥2 comorbidities and the most prevalent comorbidity was diabetes. The mean score of HF knowledge was 6.9 (possible range 0-15) and the most frequent incorrect items were “proper actions to reduce thirst” and “causes of leg swelling” in both better and worse QOL groups. Among the recommended lifestyle, pneumococcal vaccination had the least adherence in both groups. Multiple logistic regression showed that patients in NYHA class I, with a higher left ventricular ejection fraction, who had knowledge of “amount of fluid intake a day” and consumed more than moderate alcohol tended to have better QOL. Conclusion: More active interventions targeting HF knowledge in proper actions to reduce thirst, causes of leg swelling, and the amount of fluid intake per day are required. Patients with HF in more serious condition need special attention regarding the risk of worse QOL. The role of alcohol consumption in QOL among HF patients in Korea needs further exploration.