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Published on: April 17, 2021
Rural patients' knowledge about heart failure
Kathleen Dracup1, Debra K Moser, Michele M Pelter
1Kathleen Dracup, PhD, RN Professor and Dean Emeritus, School of Nursing, Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco. Debra K. Moser, DNSc Professor and Gill Endowed Chair, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Michele M. Pelter, PhD, RN Assistant Professor, Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno. Thomas Nesbitt, MD, MPH Interim Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences and Dean of School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. Jeffrey Southard, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. Steven M. Paul, PhD Principle Statistician and Lecturer, University of California, San Francisco. Susan Robinson, PhD, RN Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco. Jessica Zègre Hemsey, PhD, RN Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco. Lawton Cooper, MD, MPH Medical Officer, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
Background:
Heart failure (HF) is a potentially disabling condition requiring significant patient knowledge to manage the requirements of self-care. The need for self-care is important for all patients but particularly for those living in rural areas that are geographically remote from healthcare services.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to identify the level of knowledge of rural patients with HF and the clinical and demographic characteristics associated with low levels of HF knowledge.
Methods:
Baseline data from 612 patients with HF enrolled in the Rural Education to Improve Outcomes in Heart Failure trial were analyzed using the Heart Failure Knowledge Scale, the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, and the anxiety subscale of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the contribution of sociodemographic and clinical variables to levels of HF knowledge.
Results:
The mean (SD) age was 66 (13) years; 59% were men, and 50.5% had an ejection fraction of less than 40%. The mean (SD) percent correct on the Heart Failure Knowledge Scale was 69.5% (13%; range, 25%-100%), with the most frequent incorrect items related to symptoms of HF and the need for daily weights. The men and the older patients scored significantly lower in HF knowledge than did the women and the younger patients (P = 0.002 and 0.011, respectively). The patients with preserved systolic function also scored significantly lower than those with systolic HF (P = 0.030).
Conclusions:
Patients who are at risk for poor self-care because of low levels of HF knowledge can be identified. Older patients, men, and, patients with HF with preserved systolic function may require special educational strategies to gain the knowledge required for effective self-care.
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