Exploring nurses' and patients' knowledge of Heart Failure. Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring nurses' and patients' knowledge of Heart Failure and patients' self-efficacy and care needs before discharge from an acute care setting.
IRAS ID
149248
Contact name
Karen Smith
Contact email
Research summary
Heart Failure (HF) is a common disabling chronic condition affecting approximately one million people in the United Kingdom alone. It is more prevalent in the elderly who often have other co-morbidities and is associated with significant mortality, morbidity and poor quality of life and can result in frequent hospital admissions. Pharmacological therapy as well as patient education, symptom monitoring and self-management are important in living with this long term condition. Previous research has suggested inadequate education of HF patients can affect compliance with drug and lifestyle management. In order to provide adequate education and support to HF patients nursing staff in acute hospitals need to be knowledgeable and skilled in the management of HF to meet the patient’s educational needs before discharge. Nursing staff providing care for HF patients have a variety of skills and experience however the current knowledge levels of staff related to HF and its management in this acute setting is not known. Similarly,no formal assessment of patients' knowledge of their HF condition or their perceived ability to manage their HF after discharge is routinely completed during their admission.
The purpose of this study is firstly to assess the nurses' knowledge of heart failure before and after the completion of an online learning activity on heart failure. In addition, this study aims to explore patients’ knowledge of HF and self-efficacy before discharge from hospital. Finally it will consider whether there are any relationships between these factors.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
14/ES/1054
Date of REC Opinion
21 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion