Telehealth: Improving Quality of Life in Veterans with Congestive Heart Failure

Telehealth: Improving Quality of Life in Veterans with Congestive Heart Failure by Marcia Elaine Callender MS, George Mason University, 2000 BSN, Salem State College, 1984 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University August 2016 Abstract Congestive heart failure (CHF) affects an estimated 5.1 million Americans over the age of 20. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether there is a difference in the Quality of Life (QOL) for Congestive heart failure patients receiving care through telehealth compared to patients receiving face-to-face care (usual care). Guiding this project was the Self-Care Model of Chronic Illness because the primary outcome of theCongestive heart failure (CHF) affects an estimated 5.1 million Americans over the age of 20. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether there is a difference in the Quality of Life (QOL) for Congestive heart failure patients receiving care through telehealth compared to patients receiving face-to-face care (usual care). Guiding this project was the Self-Care Model of Chronic Illness because the primary outcome of the self-care model is illness stability, well-being, and quality of life. Seventy-seven veterans with Heart Failure (HF) from the Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) participated in the project. Forty reported they were receiving telehealth and 37 reported that they were receiving face-to-face care. The average participant age was 67 years with a range of 44 to 93 years. Seventy-five of the participants were male and 2 were female. Sixty-four participants were Black and 12 were White. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLHF) questionnaire average score for the telehealth group was 49.4 (SD = 28.7) and the face-to-face care group was 37 (SD = 27.9). With equal variance assumed, there was no significant difference between MLHF scores in the telehealth group compared to the usual care group (t = -1.91, p > .05). Thus, opportunities for using telehealth without negatively affecting patient outcomes, such as QOL, are plausible. It can be concluded that providing services using home telehealth for HF patients may produce outcomes that are equivalent to those receiving traditional services. Telehealth: Improving QOL in Veterans with Congestive Heart Failure by Marcia Elaine Callender MS, George Mason University, 2000 BS, Salem State College, 1984 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University August 2016 Acknowledgments I am grateful to my Lord and Savor Jesus Christ for His faithfulness, guidance and direction. My daughter, Alicia Callender, and sister, Monica Martin for their support and patience with me as I pursued my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. I am thankful to my father, Mr. Sydney Callender (Deceased) and mother, Mrs. Mary Callender for instilling commitment and dedication to me throughout my life. I am grateful to my friends at Immanuel Bible Church Orchestra for their support; as well as, my friends, co-workers, and Veterans at the Washington, DC, VAMC for supporting me during the Project. I would like to thank my preceptor Ms. Jacqueline Gannuscio, DNP, APNP for her time and commitment. I appreciate my DNP Committee Chair, Marilyn Murphy, PhD, MS, MBA, RN, committee members, and University Research Reviewer, Dr. Jonah Nguh for their feedback and support.