Effects of Home-Based Care Program on Symptom Alleviation and Well-Being Among Persons with Chronic Heart Failure
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Date
2010-03-25
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The Thailand Nursing Council
Abstract
Chronic heart failure (CHF) often requires a long period of recuperative care to address physical, psychological and social functions. CHF patients need a home-based care program to alleviate symptoms and improve well-being. This study was a randomized clinical trial aimed to examine the effects of a home-based care program on the alleviation of symptoms and improvement of well-being of CHF patients. The study framework included a symptom management model and coaching strategies. A sample of 96 participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups. The experimental group intervention consisted of two home visits for coaching and at least two weekly telephone contacts to assure regular performance of self-monitoring and symptom management activities. The control group received usual care. Data were collected before the intervention and after the intervention at week-8 and week-12. Collection instruments were the Chronic Heart Failure Symptom Severity Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36 V2) to measure well-being. The results show that a home-based care program can significantly alleviate the severity and increase the well-being of CHF patients. The findings provide nurses with guidelines for taking care of CHF patients at home. In order to generalize the findings, further study must be carried out in different patient groups with various severity levels so that the finding can be generalized to the whole CHF population.
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Thai Journal of Nursing Research; Vol.12 No.1 January-March 2008; 25-39