The effect of heart failure nurse consultations on heart failure patients’ illness beliefs, mood and quality of life over a six‐month period

Abstract

Newman, S. P. and Cowie, M. R. (2014). The effect of heart failure nurse consultations on heart failure patients' illness beliefs, mood and quality of life over a six-month period. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(1-2), pp. 256-265. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12616 This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent THE EFFECT OF HEART FAILURE NURSE CONSULTATIONS ON HEART FAILURE PATIENTS' ILLNESS BELIEFS, MOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD.ABSTRACT Aims and Background: There is growing interest in patients' illness beliefs and the part they play in a patient's understanding of chronic disease.Objectives: We wished to explore the effect contact with a heart failure nurse can have on patients' illness beliefs, mood and quality of life.Design: Secondary analysis on two independent datasets. Patients were recruited from five UK hospitals, four in London and one in Sussex. Patients were recruited from an inpatient and outpatient setting. The first dataset recruited 174 patients with newly diagnosed with heart failure whilst the second dataset recruited 88 patients with an existing diagnosis of heart failure. Methods: Patients completed the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire, HospitalAnxiety and Depression scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Treatment Representations Inventory at baseline and 6 months. We used a linear regression model to assess the association that contact with a heart failure nurse had on mood, illness beliefs and quality of life over a 6-month period. Results:Patients who had contact with a heart failure nurse were more satisfied with their treatment and more likely to believe that their heart failure was treatable. Contact with a heart failure nurse did not make a statistically significant difference to mood or quality of life. Conclusion:This study has shown that contact with a heart failure nurse can improve patient satisfaction with treatment decisions but has less influence on patient's beliefs about their personal control, treatment control and treatment concerns. With appropriate support, skills and training heart failure nurses could play an important role in addressing individual patient's beliefs. There is a need to further investigate this.Relevance to clinical practice: Exploring patients' illness beliefs and mood could help to enhance person centred care. Heart failure nurses would need additional training in the techniques used.

Quality of life improves in patients with chronic heart failure and Cheyne‐Stokes respiration treated with adaptive servo‐ventilation in a nurse‐led heart failure clinic

“…In addition, patient satisfaction with treatment decisions improved when followed up in a nurse‐led heart failure clinic (Lucas et al . ).…”

“…However, these effects rely on a relationship of mutual trust between the patient and nurse that is typically only developed over time (Lucas et al . ). Through this support and with time and patience, CHF patients may be able to cope with the equipment.…”

“…Coping with the mask requires education and support provided in nurseled heart failure clinics, where a specialised nurse provides proximity, time and continuity (Stromberg et al 2003, Lupon et al 2013. A systematic review reported that nurseled heart failure clinics decrease the number of hospital admissions; improve compliance, self-care behaviour and QoL by follow-up; and improve patient education (Lucas et al 2015). However, these effects rely on a relationship of mutual trust between the patient and nurse that is typically only developed over time (Lucas et al 2015).…”

Pårørende til hjemmeboende med hjertesvikt: «medarbeidere» i ukjent tjenesteterreng

“…Det er godt dokumentert at sykepleieledet poliklinikk forbedrer både overlevelse og egenomsorgsatferd hos pasienter med hjertesvikt (34,35). Spesialsykepleiere på hjertesviktpoliklinikker bidrar med konsultasjoner og koordinering av tjenester for pasient og pårørende, og kan kontaktes på telefon.…”

“…Dette reflekterer betydningen av høy kompetanse også i hjemmesykepleien, saerlig kompetanse knyttet til å identifisere og handle når det oppstår forverring av pasientens tilstand. Studier har rapportert at kompleksiteten ved hjertesvikt krever at sykepleiere må ha spisskompetanse for å informere og følge opp pasienter med hjertesvikt på en hensiktsmessig måte, og at det er mangel på denne kompetansen (31,35). En spesiell utfordring i kommunehelsetjenesten er mangel på både spesialistkompetanse og kontinuitet i oppfølgingen (38,39).…”