Correlation between the frequency of hospitalization due to worsening of chronic heartfailure and patients' self-control knowledge and implementation
Journal Title: Polski Przegląd Kardiologiczny - Year 2008, Vol 10, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic heart failure (CHF) affects a constantly growing population. It is generally believed, thatthe patients compliance with doctors' instructions and self-control are of great importance regarding the course of CHF. Thus, the knowledge and implementation of the self-control rules in everyday practice may decrease the number of hospitalizations due to worsening heart failure, especially among patients with severe CHF. Aim of study: To evaluate the correlation between knowledge about self-control rules and their implementation and number of hospitalization because of worsening CHF. Material and methods: The study was performed from September 2007 to April 2008 in the 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdańsk. Study group was formed by 83 patients with severe CHF, mean age 62.8±13.2years, 72 men and 11 women. Patients were divided into 2 groups: rarely hospitalized (RH) (<2 times overthe last 24 months; n=32) and often hospitalized (OH) (3 times and more overthe last 24 months; n=51). The questionnaire was used to evaluate the knowledge about symptoms of CHF and rules of self-control and the level of self-control beha-viour in correlation with the frequency of hospitalizations and clinical and demographic data. Results: We observed that the patients' knowledge about the rules of self-control assessed in 0-9 point scale was comparable in both groups (RH=6.7±1.9; OH=6.7±1.6; NS).Howeverthe implementation ofthis knowledge inthe RH patients was significantly lower in comparison to OH as assessed in 0-9 point scale (RH=4.4±1.9; OH=5.5±2,1; p<0.05). In addition a stronger correlation between knowledge and implementation in OH group was observed (RH: r=0.21; p=0.05 vs. OH: r=0.40; p=0.01). In both groups physicians were the main source of knowledge. The percentage of patients regularly visiting cardiologists was higher in OH=59.9% vs. RH=34.4%; (p<0.05). Conclusions: There is no correlation between the number of hospitalization due to worsening of CHF and patients' knowledge about self-control the rules. We found, however, that frequent visits to cardiologists and multiple hospitalizations do increase the level of self-control behaviour among patients with CHF. All patients with CHF should be encouraged to search for various sources of knowledge about their disease, as the doctors are still the predominant source of information for the vast majority of patients.
Authors and Affiliations
Elżbieta Bluj, Grzegorz Żuk, Michał Bohdan, Joanna Wróblewska, Marcin Gruchała, Andrzej Rynkiewicz
Keywords
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