[Education and multidisciplinary management in chronic heart failure]

Heart failure is a common, serious and expensive disease. It causes repeated hospitalizations, decreases patients' quality of life, and reduces the independence of elderly patients. It constitutes a major public health problem for which a new organization of care appears necessary. The components of this management, which requires a multidisciplinary organization, are a major involvement by paramedical personnel, coordination of care, and patient education. Patient education is a continuous patient-centered process directed at helping them become competent in reconciling the difficulties associated with the disease, treatment requirements and quality of life. Their own security requires that they learn to identify and cope with signs of disease aggravation. The other educational objectives are negotiated with the patient and are therefore individualized. The general practitioner plays an essential role in patients' medical management but also in their education, starting the program and providing additional information; consistency with the educational team is essential.