Development of Core Educational Content for Heart Failure Patients in Transition from Hospital to Home Care: A Delphi Study

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) patients should be systematically educated before discharge on how to manage with standard written materials for patient self-management. However, because of the absence of readily available written materials to reinforce their learned knowledge, patients with HF feel inadequately informed in terms of the discharge information provided to them. This study aimed to develop core content to prepare patients with HF for transition from hospital to home care. The content was validated by expert panelists using Delphi methods. Nineteen draft items based on literature review were developed. We established a consensus on four core sections, including 47 categories and 128 subcategories through the Delphi survey: (1) understanding HF (five categories and 23 subcategories), (2) HF medication (19 categories and 45 subcategories), (3) HF management (20 categories and 47 subcategories), and (4) HF diary (three categories and 13 subcategories). Each section provided easy-to-understand educational contents using cartoon images and large or bold letters for older patients with HF. The developed core HF educational contents showed high consensus between the experts, along with clinical validity. The contents can be used as an educational booklet for both planning discharge education of patients with HF and for post-discharge management when transitioning from hospital to home. Based on this study, a booklet series for HF patients was first registered at the National Library of Korea. Future research should focus on delivering the core content to patients with HF in convenient and accessible format through various media.

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: How to Deal with This Chameleon

“…Patient self-care has been shown to be crucial in developing self-care skills [ 146 ]. The ultimate goal of patients with HF is to acquire skills necessary to perform daily activities; in other words, to minimize repeated symptom exacerbations and prevent the deterioration of the QoL of patients, it is necessary to improve their ability to recognize symptoms and manage HF [ 145 , 146 , 151 ].…”

“…As shown in Figure 5, education should consider comorbidities or communication barriers, including social failure and cognitive impairment. The contents of health education include a basic HF overview, signs and symptoms along with their causes and consequences, lifestyle modification, risk factor control, adequate exercise, limiting diet and liquids, psychosocial aspects, implanted devices, medications (and their side effects), and the importance of adherence, regular checks, triggers for contacting a provider, where to obtain assistance and what caregivers need to know for the self-management of patients with HF [8,143,[145][146][147][148].…”

Efeito Do Programa De Transição No Autocuidado De Pacientes Com Insuficiência Cardíaca: Ensaio Clínico Randomizado

“…Considerando que a baixa escolaridade é um fator que prejudica o entendimento das orientações sobre o tratamento farmacológico e não farmacológico da IC, implementar o cuidado de transição ainda na internação permite melhorar o aprendizado do paciente e a ter maior confiança em realizar o autocuidado em casa 23 .…”

Effect of the Transition Program on Self-Care of Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Considering that low education is a factor that hinders the understanding of guidelines on the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of HF, implementing transitional care during hospital admission allows patients to improve learning and have greater confidence in carrying out self-care at home 23 .…”