Self-management intervention for elderly heart failure patients: preliminary data
Abstract
Heart failure is a syndrome in which the heart fails to pump adequately to meet the body's metabolic needs. Age-appropriate, theory-based behavioral strategies are needed to assist elderly people to recognize and manage manifestations of heart failure in their everyday lives. There have been few rigorous evaluations of such interventions in older heart failure patients who are receiving home care services. The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate a self-management intervention (Weight and Symptom Diary) by comparing two groups of elderly heart failure clients receiving home health care, based on the following variables: self-management, self-confidence, functional status, and symptom distress. The subjects are recruited from local, Medicare-certified home health care agencies and are interviewed in their homes at two different times using a series of questionnaires. At present, complete data have been collected for 17 participants. The preliminary data show no significant differences between the Control and Intervention groups, which may be due to our small sample. We will continue to recruit subjects and collect data.