Year
2011
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
Brooks College of Health
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Katherine Robinson
Second Advisor
Dr. Irma B. Ancheta
Abstract
Heart Failure is a growing and costly problem in the United States. There have been advancements in medical therapy, but unfortunately patients continue to have frequent exacerbations and hospital readmissions. The reason for this may be inadequate Heart Failure self-care, which is the most important aspect of disease management. Literature strongly encourages self-care, but there is minimal research focusing on the use of a Heart Failure diary. The study was a one group pretest/posttest design. The intervention included individualized education, provision of the Heart Failure Diary, and weekly follow-up for a total of four weeks. The Heart Failure Diary was developed specifically for this study for recording daily self-care maintenance activities which includes weight monitoring, fluid intake, salt intake, swelling, shortness of breath, and medication adherence. In order to determine the effects of using the diary on self-care and quality of life, the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) responses were compared pre and post intervention. The difference between the SCHFI pretest-posttest scores demonstrated a non-significant improvement in self-care maintenance, n = 14, 2.616 (12.942), SE = 3.459, p = .463, t = - .756, 95% CI [-10.089, 4.856]. The difference between the MLHFQ pretest-posttest scores demonstrated a non-significant improvement in quality of life, n = 14, -5.500 (18.851), SE = 5.038, p = .295, t = 1.092, 95% CI [-5.384, 16.384]. The effect size of the SCHFI, d = .20, and the MLHFQ, d = .29, are both small and most likely due to the small sample size. The study concluded that using the diary did not have a statistically significant effect on the self-care or quality of life of these patients with heart failure.
Suggested Citation
Walker, Claudette, "Effects of the Use of a Heart Failure Diary on Self-Care and Quality of Life" (2011). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 65.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/65