The effect of educational interventions by nurses through Orem's self-care theory on the ability of self-care in myocardial Infarction patients in public sector hospital: A quasi-experimental study.

Objectives: To assess the impact of educational intervention by nurses guided by Orem's theory to reinforce the self-care abilities of patients experiencing myocardial infarction. METHODS: The prospective, quasi-experimental case-control study was conducted from September 2020 to April 2021 at Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, and comprised myocardial infarction and heart failure patients with comorbidities diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The patients were randomised into experiment group A and control group B. Group A received educational intervention one day before and one day after discharge in line with the American Heart Association guidelines. Two 30-45-minute sessions of seven modules were conducted. Group B received routine information from ward staff. Assessment was done at baseline and first month and second month post-intervention using the Heart Failure Self-Care Index version 6.2. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients, 40(50%) were in group A; 27(76.5%) males and 13(32.5%) females. The remaining 40(50%) patients were in group B; 20(50%) males and 20(50%) females. The overall age of the sample ranged 36-65 years and 48(60%) had a previous history of heart failure. The mean score of maintenance, management, confidence and overall self-care were significantly higher in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). Conclusion: Nursing self-care educational intervention based on Orem's theory was found to be highly effective among patients of myocardial infarction and heart failure with respect to their self-efficacy ability.

CICARE communication model and hierarchical responsibility nursing coordination in the application research of elderly patients with chronic heart failure.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of implementing the CICARE communication model and hierarchical responsibility nursing coordination in managing chronic heart failure among elderly patients. From June 2021 to June 2023, 120 elderly patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure were admitted to our hospital. They were divided into 2 groups according to different treatment methods: the regular group and the observation group. Both groups of patients received nursing interventions for 3 months. Before and after the intervention, we assessed the levels of cardiac function indicators (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, and B-type natriuretic peptide levels) and exercise tolerance (6-minute walk test) in both groups of patients. The time to clinical symptom relief, self-efficacy, and quality of life scores were compared between the 2 groups of patients. Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in cardiac function indicators between the 2 groups (P > .05). However, after the intervention, both groups exhibited improvements in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and B-type natriuretic peptide levels, with the observation group demonstrating greater reductions compared to the control group. Furthermore, both groups showed increased left ventricular ejection fraction levels, with the observation group experiencing a significantly higher improvement. Although exercise tolerance did not differ significantly between the groups before the intervention, post-intervention analysis revealed a greater increase in 6-minute walk test distance in the observation group compared to the control group (P < .05). The time to relief of breathlessness and edema did not significantly differ between the groups (P > .05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in self-efficacy and quality of life scores between the groups before the intervention (P > .05); however, post-intervention analysis showed higher self-efficacy scores in the observation group. Application of the CICARE communication model and hierarchical responsibility nursing coordination in elderly patients with chronic heart failure can effectively improve the patients' cardiac function levels and significantly enhance their exercise tolerance, self-efficacy, and quality of life.

[The organisation of outpatient medical and nursing clinics for the follow-up of patients after hospitalization for a myocardial infarction or heart failure]. / L'organizzazione di ambulatori medico-infermieristici sul territorio per il follow-up dei pazienti dopo un ricovero per infarto miocardico o scompenso cardiaco.

. The organisation of outpatient medical and nursing clinics for the follow-up of patients after hospitalization for a myocardial infarction or heart failure. INTRODUCTION: Guidelines suggest careful monitoring of patients after acute heart failure (AHF) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI). OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation of the 'accompanied discharge' (DIMACC) pathway for patients admitted for AHF or AMI in the Cardiology Department of the Pio XI hospital in Desio, and to evaluate its feasibility. METHODS: The DIMACC pathway was built following the recommendations of international guidelines and with the involvement of all the actors. RESULTS: At discharge, the health objectives to be achieved are defined, and outpatient visits during the first year after hospitalization in the District outpatient clinics with the cardiology doctor and family nurses are booked. The patient stays in the outpatient clinic about 1.5 hours to complete at first, in half an hour, questionnaires on measures, symptoms, adherence, quality of life; then, to receive the nursing visit lasting half an hour for the assessment of the questionnaires, measurement of clinical parameters and counseling; and finally, to be visited by the cardiologist. During the pilot phase (6 months of recruitment and 1 year of follow-up) 168 patients (129 AMI and 39 AHF) followed the pathway: 4 (2.4%) patients died during the follow-up, 14 (8.3%) abandoned the pathway and 150 (89.3%) completed it. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the DIMACC pathway required an investment of time (about a year) and resources but the follow-up is feasible. The next phase will be the evaluation of the patient outcomes.

A Feasibility Study of Qualitative Methods Using the Zarit Burden Interview in Heart Failure Caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study was to identify and understand the burden experienced by informal caregivers of patients with HF at the time of hospital discharge. The researchers aimed to guide future education interventions and promote informal caregiver burden screening. DESIGN: The researchers administered the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) as a quantitative tool to assess informal caregiver burden. The ZBI is a standardized questionnaire used to measure the extent of burden experienced by informal caregivers. After administering the ZBI, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with five informal caregivers of patients with HF. These interviews were guided by probing questions related to ZBI items that were rated with high levels of burden (3 "quite frequently" or 4 "nearly always"). RESULTS: The quantitative data showed that the informal caregivers' burden scores on the ZBI ranged from 4 to 41. Male informal caregivers tended to report lower burden scores. The non-spouse informal caregiver had the highest burden score at 41. The qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed several themes related to informal caregiver burden, including fear, patient expectations, patient dependence on caregivers, social isolation, and stressors associated with medication changes after discharge. Despite the qualitative insights into specific burden-related issues, the quantitative analysis of the ZBI scores showed that, on average, informal caregivers reported little to no burden at the time of acute exacerbation of HF in the patient. CONCLUSION: The study's findings suggest that while informal caregivers may not report prominent levels of overall burden, they do face specific challenges and stressors, such as social isolation and managing medication changes post-discharge. These findings can inform the development of targeted support and interventions for informal caregivers of patients with HF.

Self-care for people with heart failure: the importance of tele-nursing in the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to describe factors of influence of telenursing on naturalistic decision making about self-care of people with heart failure during COVID-19. METHOD: this is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, with 16 participants interviewed after hospitalization for decompensated heart failure. The data was collected using audio and video technology and submitted to content analysis, guided by the Situation-Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self-Care. RESULT: two thematic categories emerged from the analysis: Self-care as a decision-making process and Factors influencing decision-making, which describe tele-nursing as a support resource for people with heart failure, during changes in care in the pandemic period. CONCLUSION: it was possible to understand the relationship between telenursing and the establishment of a bond, in order to stimulate naturalistic decision-making by people with heart failure in their daily lives in a coherent way, leading to better health outcomes. HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Different barriers compromise the decision-making of people with heart failure.(2) Nursing theories can guide coherent self-care attitudes.(3) Continuity of care and a support network are necessary after hospitalization.(4) Emotional support for people with heart failure must go hand in hand with conventional treatment.(5) The bond through tele-nursing provides positive health outcomes.

Nurses' perspectives on the provision of self-care management education to patients with heart failure: A qualitative study at Cardiac Hospital, Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Patients' education along with a motivation for developing self-care management skills is an essential component in the management of heart failure(HF). Self-care management education has been practiced by nurses in many hospitals. However, there is inadequate evidence for the provision of self-care management education in low-income countries including Tanzania. Lack of self-care management education to patients with HF during discharge is the most common reason for re-admission to hospitals. AIM: This study aimed to explore nurses' perspectives focusing on facilitators and barriers to the provision of self-care management education to patients with heart failure at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 12 study participants. In-depth interviews were used to collect the data. We used thematic analysis to come up with the themes and sub-themes. RESULTS: The two major themes emerged from this study; The first theme is "Improved patient quality of life and health outcome" which describes factors that motivate nurses to continue giving self-care management education to heart failure patients. The second theme is "Reduced effective uptake of self-care management education" which describes nurses'perspectives on barriers for providing self-care management education to heart falure patients. Nurses highlight some barriers while providing self-care management education to patients with heart failure including;inadequate knowledge of self-care management among nurses, lack of privacy during the provision of self-care education, poor communication skills among nurses, and lack of learning materials. Also, nurses pointed out facilitators that influence the provision of self-care management education such as increased involvement of family members and the use of peer educators. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Poor self-care management for patients with heart failure results in readmission and prolonged hospital stay. Family involvement and the use of peer educators are the key steps in the improvement of self-care management for patients with HF. However, patient cognitive impairment and poverty which contribute to poor health outcomes, should be taken into consideration when planning for discharge for patients with HF. Self-care management education should be part of routine health care.

Patient-centered care for mental health in patients with heart failure in the intensive care unit: A systematic review.

AIM: To assess basic data for developing appropriate interventions by examining the effects of patient-centered care (PCC) on the mental health of patients with heart failure in the intensive care unit (ICU). BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure are frequently admitted to ICUs, and ICU stays are associated with prolonged mental health problems. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review using the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and gray literature databases. Inclusion criteria were studies with participants aged ≥18 years with heart failure in the ICU who received a PCC intervention, and studies that described the outcomes for mental health problems. Data were extracted from five selected studies published after 2020 and analyzed. RESULTS: PCC is classified into three areas: comprehensive nursing, multidisciplinary disease management, and targeted motivational interviewing with conventional nursing. The two specific areas of focus for PCC regarding mental health were integrated mental healthcare and specific psychological nursing. Specific psychological nursing comprised relationship building, therapeutic communication, relaxation and motivational techniques, active therapeutic cooperation, psychological status evaluation, music therapy, and environmental management. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a distinctive understanding of multidisciplinary and multicomponent PCC interventions for patients with heart failure in the ICU as an effective approach for improving their mental health. Future PCC intervention strategies aimed at patients with heart failure in the ICU should consider their preferences and family participation.

Nursing diagnoses for people hospitalized with heart failure: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVES: to identify in the literature the main nursing diagnoses according to the NANDA-I diagnostic classification for people hospitalized with heart failure. METHODS: an integrative literature review, carried out in February 2019 and updated in July 2023, in the MEDLINE via PubMed, LILACS, SciELO and CINAHL databases. Given the use of acronym PEO, studies without a time cut in Portuguese, English and Spanish were included. Descriptive analysis was carried out to present the identified information. RESULTS: analysis of 27 articles identified 24 nursing diagnoses, with emphasis on Decreased Cardiac Output, Excessive Fluid Volume, Decreased Activity Tolerance and Fatigue. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: evidence can contribute to better diagnostic decisions centered on people with heart failure in search of more assertive health results and have the potential to support future studies on a possible syndromic pattern in this population.

Effects of dyadic care interventions for heart failure on patients' and caregivers' outcomes: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

BACKGROUND: The contemporary model for managing heart failure has been extended to a patient-family caregiver dyadic context. However, the key characteristics of the model that can optimise health outcomes for both patients and caregivers remain to be investigated. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the effects of dyadic care interventions on the behavioural, health, and health-service utilisation outcomes of patients with heart failure and their family caregivers and to explore how the intervention design characteristics influence these outcomes. DESIGN: This study involved systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression techniques. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, using 12 databases to identify randomised controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies published in English or Chinese between database inception and 31 December 2022. The considered interventions included those targeting patients with heart failure and their family caregivers to enhance disease management. Data synthesis was performed on various patient- and caregiver-related outcomes. The identified interventions were categorised according to their design characteristics for subgroup analysis. Meta-regression was performed to explore the relationship between care delivery methods and their effectiveness. RESULTS: We identified 48 studies representing 9171 patient-caregiver dyads. Meta-analyses suggested the positive effects of dyadic care interventions on patients' health outcomes [Hedges' g (95 % confidence interval {CI}): heart failure knowledge = 1.0 (0.26, 1.75), p = 0.008; self-care confidence = 0.45 (0.08, 0.83), p = 0.02; self-care maintenance = 1.12 (0.55, 1.70), p < 0.001; self-care management = 1.01 (0.54, 1.49), p < 0.001; anxiety = -0.18 (-0.34, -0.02), p = 0.03; health-related quality of life = 0.30 (0.08, 0.51), p < 0.001; hospital admission (risk ratio {95 % CI}: hospital admission = 0.79 (0.65, 0.97), p = 0.007; and mortality = 0.58 (0.36, 0.93), p = 0.02)]. Dyadic care interventions also improved the caregivers' outcomes [Hedges' g (95 % CI): social support = 0.67 (0.01, 1.32), p = 0.05; perceived burden = -1.43 (-2.27, -0.59), p < 0.001]. Although the design of the identified care interventions was heterogeneous, the core care components included enabling and motivational strategies to improve self-care, measures to promote collaborative coping within the care dyads, and nurse-caregiver collaborative practice. Incorporating the first two core components appeared to enhance the behavioural and health outcomes of the patients, and the addition of the last component reduced readmission. Interventions that engaged both patients and caregivers in care provision, offered access to nurses, and optimised continuity of care led to better patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that dyadic care interventions can effectively improve disease management in a family context, resulting in better health outcomes for both patients and caregivers. Additionally, this study provides important insights into the more-effective design characteristics of these interventions. REGISTRATION NUMBER: The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022322492).

[Healthcare professionals' perception of advanced nursing practice in Ehpad with regard to the risk of drug iatrogenicity in heart failure patients]. / Perception des professionnels de santé sur la pratique avancée infirmière en Ehpad au regard du risque d'iatrogénie médicamenteuse chez l'insuffisant cardiaque.

Medication iatrogenia is a real public health problem. Elderly people are particularly at risk, due to their multiple pathologies, including heart failure; residents of residential care facilities for the dependent elderly (Ehpad) are no exception. Studies show that this risk is avoidable in 60% of cases, and that advanced practice nurses (APNs) can play a pivotal role in preventive measures. How would the role of the APN be perceived by other healthcare professionals working with these heart failure patients institutionalized in Ehpad?

Application of intensive management of risk awareness combined with cardiac rehabilitation nursing in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure.

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of intensive risk awareness management along with cardiac rehabilitation nursing in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure. We selected 101 elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart aging treated from January 2022 to March 2023. They were divided into control and observation groups based on hospitalization numbers. The control group (n = 50) received routine nursing, while the observation group (n = 51) received intensive risk awareness management and cardiac rehabilitation nursing. We compared medication possession ratio (MPR), cardiac function, self-care ability scale scores, quality-of-life, incidents, and satisfaction between the 2 groups. Before intervention, there was no significant difference in MPR values between the 2 groups (P > .05). After intervention, MPR values increased in both groups, with a greater increase in the observation group (P < .05). Cardiac function showed no significant difference before intervention (P > .05), but after intervention, the observation group had lower left ventricular end-systolic and diastolic diameters and higher left ventricular ejection fraction compared to the control group (P < .05). Self-care skills, health knowledge, self-responsibility, and self-concept scores improved in both groups after intervention, with higher scores in the observation group (P < .05). The observation group had higher scores in various quality-of-life domains (P < .05). The total incidence of adverse events was lower in the observation group (5.88%) compared to the control group (20.00%) (P < .05). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the observation group (96.08%) than in the control group (84.00%) (P < .05). Intensive risk awareness management combined with cardiac rehabilitation nursing in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart aging can enhance medication compliance, improve quality-of-life, enhance self-care abilities, boost cardiac function, reduce incidents, and increase patient satisfaction.

American Association of Heart failure nurses' knowledge, barriers and facilitators in conducting research.

BACKGROUND: To provide high-quality patient care, heart failure (HF) nurses must comprehend/use best evidence; however, HF nurses' ability to do so are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe HF nurses' research interest/involvement, confidence, facilitators/motivators, and barriers to lead/collaborate in research studies. METHODS: A descriptive design with convenience sampling and online data collection (Qualtrics) were used with American Association of HF Nurses members. Recruited/included nurses (n = 145) needed to be of any educational level and currently practicing in any practice setting in the United States. A 30-item, adapted instrument assessed research interest (one-question), involvement (two-questions), confidence (two-questions), facilitators (one-question), motivators (three-questions), and barriers (21-questions). RESULTS: Subjects (n = 145) were Caucasian (n = 124, 86.1 %) females (n = 137, 96.5 %) with an average age of 52.5 ± 10.38 years and 26.90±12.06 years of nursing experience. Nurses were interested in conducting nursing research (7.78/10±2.37) but involvement was low. Most frequently (n = 73, 50.3 %) nurses served as principal/co-investigators. Confidence with research participation was moderate (70.28/100±26.92) and in their ability to understand/apply research findings were low (21.68/100±80.07). The most frequently reported facilitator was the ability to control their own schedule/work (n = 30, 20.7 %) and the strongest motivator (n = 107, 73.8 %) was the perception presenting nursing research/EBP impacts HF care. The greatest reported barrier was the authority to seek research funding (2.39/5 ± 1.14). Nursing experience (p=.034), interest in participating in nursing research (p=.01), and how much presenting nursing research/EBP impacted one's performance review (p<.001) added to the prediction (R2=0.499, p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The gained knowledge may promote development of innovative programs and educational opportunities to increase HF nurses' research activities.

Caregivers' Contributions to Heart Failure Self-care: An Updated Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: A previous systematic review reporting the contributions of informal, unpaid caregivers to patient heart failure (HF) self-care requires updating to better inform research, practice, and policy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide an updated review answering the questions: (1) What specific activities do informal caregivers of adults with HF take part in related to HF self-care? (2) Have the activities that informal caregivers of adults with HF take part in related to HF self-care changed over time? (3) What are the gaps in the science? METHODS: This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched. Eligible studies involved an informal, unpaid caregiver of an adult with HF as a study variable or participant. Caregiving activities were benchmarked using the theory of self-care in chronic illness. RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred fifty-four research reports were identified, of which 64 met criteria. Caregivers' contributions occurred in self-care maintenance (91%), monitoring (54%), and management (46%). Activities performed directly on or to the patient were reported more frequently than activities performed for the patient. Change over time involved the 3 domains differentially. Gaps include ambiguous self-care activity descriptions, inadequate caregiving time quantification, and underrepresented self-care monitoring, supportive, and communication activities. CONCLUSIONS: Newly identified caregiver-reported activities support updating the theory of self-care in chronic illness to include activities currently considered ancillary to HF self-care. Identified gaps highlight the need to define specific caregiving activities, determine task difficulty and burden, and identify caregiver self-care strategy and education needs. Exposing the hidden work of caregiving is essential to inform policy and practice.

Psychometric testing of the Care Dependency Scale in patients with heart failure and their caregivers.

AIMS: This study aims to (i) test the validity and reliability of the Care Dependency Scale (CDS) for patients with heart failure (HF) and (ii) test the validity and reliability of the proxy version of the CDS assessing informal caregivers' perception of the dependency level of individuals with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Secondary data analysis was conducted of transnational multicentre cross-sectional design study. A convenience sample comprised of HF patients-informal caregivers' dyads in three European countries. The CDS was administered to patients and the proxy version to informal caregivers. Factorial validity was tested for each scale using confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was evaluated with the composite coefficient and Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was tested via known group differences. Measurement error was tested to assess responsiveness to changes. A total of 229 patients and 208 caregivers were recruited. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor structure (Physical Care Dependency and Psychosocial Care Dependency) of the CDS in both HF patients and their caregiver. Reliability estimates were adequate for all reliability coefficients. Construct validity was supported. The measurement error was adequate. CONCLUSION: The scale shows acceptable validity and reliability and can be useful for care dependency assessment of patients with HF and their informal caregivers. Further research is needed for assessing the validity and reliability in other cross-cultural settings. The use of the CDS has the potential to effectively enable the development of pertinent care plans, taking dependency into consideration including the perspective of both members of the dyad as a whole.

Study on the Application Effect of Nursing Intervention Based on the Transtheoretical Model in the Rehabilitation Treatment of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Objective: To analyze the application effect of nursing intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model in rehabilitating patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted for 156 CHF patients admitted to our hospital from May 2019 to September 2022. All patients met the complete inclusion criteria. They were divided into two groups based on the different nursing interventions provided during their treatment. The control group (n=78) received the routine nursing intervention, while the observation group (n=78) received nursing intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model and the care provided to the control group. The treatment compliance (MMAS-8 scale), quality of life (MLHFQ questionnaire), self-care ability (ESCA scale), cardiopulmonary function [anaerobic threshold oxygen consumption (VO2AT), carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent slope (VE/VCO2), peak VO2], and rehospitalization rates were compared between the two groups. Results: Before the intervention, the two groups had no significant difference in MMAS-8 and MLHFQ scores (P > .05). After the intervention, the MMAS-8 scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (7.25±0.64 vs. 6.32±0.98), indicating improved treatment compliance. Additionally, the MLHFQ scores were significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group (48.61±10.42 vs. 57.43±12.15, P < .05), indicating an enhanced quality of life. Before the intervention, the two groups had no significant differences in self-care skills, self-concept, health knowledge level, and self-care responsibility level (P > .05). However, after the intervention, the observation group showed significantly higher self-care skills (33.89±6.16 vs. 28.56±5.84), self-concept (24.79±3.96 vs. 21.34±4.15), health knowledge level (57.43±6.84 vs. 49.23±7.26), and self-care responsibility level (19.67±3.83 vs. 16.47±3.72) than the control group (P < .05). Before the intervention, the two groups had no significant differences in VO2AT, VE/VCO2, and peak VO2 levels (P > .05). However, after the intervention, the observation group exhibited significantly higher VO2AT (12.79±2.42 vs. 11.68±2.43) and peak VO2 levels (19.58±2.72 vs. 18.15±2.36) compared to the control group. VE/VCO2 levels were significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group (28.32±3.16 vs. 30.47±3.42, P < .05). The rehospitalization rate in the control group was 35.90%, while it was 10.26% in the observation group. The rehospitalization rate in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .05). Conclusion: The integration of nursing intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model into the rehabilitation treatment of CHF patients exhibited significantly improved treatment compliance, enhanced self-care abilities, and favorable changes in cardiopulmonary function and quality of life. These outcomes carry important implications for CHF patients' overall health and well-being, including improved medication adherence, increased exercise tolerance, and reduced rehospitalization rates. The positive outcomes suggest that integrating nursing interventions based on the Transtheoretical Model into standard care for chronic heart failure patients holds promise, with potential applications in other chronic conditions, paving the way for personalized and effective healthcare strategies.

Exploring heart failure nurse practitioner outcome measures: a scoping review.

AIMS: Clinical guidelines recommend people with heart failure are managed within a multidisciplinary team to receive optimal evidence-based management of the syndrome. There is increasing evidence that Nurse Practitioners (NP) in heart failure demonstrate positive patient outcomes. However, their roles as key stakeholders in a multidisciplinary heart failure team are not clearly defined. The aim of the review was to explore the literature related to NP-sensitive outcomes in heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: A scoping review was conducted according to accepted guidelines using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for conducting a scoping review, to identify the literature that related to NP-sensitive outcomes in heart failure management. Sixteen texts were selected for data extraction and analysis. The most common outcome measures reported were readmission rates, self-care measurement scales, functional status scores, quality of life measurements, and medication optimization outcomes. No two studies collected or reported on the same outcome measurements. CONCLUSION: This review highlights that the reporting of heart failure (HF) NP outcome indicators was inconsistent and disparate across the literature. The outcome measures reported were not exclusive to NP interventions. Nurse Practitioner roles are not clearly defined, and resulting outcomes from care are difficult to characterize. Standardized NP-specific outcome measures would serve to highlight the effectiveness of the role in a multidisciplinary HF team.