Main Findings : The results indicate that an intervention involving any human factor principles may nearly double an individual ’s probability of not being readmitted .
Principal Conclusions : Interventions with human factor principles reduce readmissions among HF patients .
Background : Human factors play an important role in health-care outcomes of heart failure ( HF ) patients .
A systematic review and meta- analysis of clinical trial studies on HF hospitalization may yield positive proofs of the beneficial effect of specific care management strategies .
Purpose : To investigate how the 8 guiding principles of choice , rest , environment , activity , trust , interpersonal relationships , outlook , and nutrition reduce HF readmissions .
Usefulness of a home-based exercise program for overweight and obese patients with advanced heart failure.
Exercise is an important behavior for long-term weight control in overweight and obese patients . However , little evidence exists confirming such findings in patients with advanced heart failure ( HF ) . Using a prospect i ve , experimental design , the effects of 24 weeks of a low-level , home-based walking program on weight loss were studied in overweight and obese ( body mass index > or = 27 kg/m(2 ) ) patients with advanced HF who were r and omized to exercise ( n = 48 ) and control ( n = 51 ) groups .  Weight changes between the 2 groups at baseline and 6 months were compared using repeated- measures analysis of variance . Patients were on average aged 53.3 + /- 10.1 years and predominantly male ( 75 % ) , Caucasian ( 57 % ) , and married ( 55 % ) . Most patients were in New York Heart Association class III or IV ( 67 % ) , with a mean ejection fraction of 25 % . Patients in the exercise group showed significant weight reduction from baseline to 6 months compared with those in the control group ( -6.37 + /- 11.7 vs -0.33 + /- 9.3 kg , p = 0.002 ) . No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups in 6-minute walk distance or depression , although the changes were in the anticipated direction . Modest weight losses of > 5 % were associated with cardiopulmonary exercise test-documented workload levels at 6 months ( r = 0.331 , p = 0.006 ) , as well as decreased depression ( r = -0.315 , p = 0.01 ) and hostility ( r = -0.355 , p = 0.005 ) . The number of hospital admissions was significantly smaller for patients in the exercise group compared with those in the control group ( 0.63 + /- 0.94 vs 1.07 + /- 0.95 , p < 0.05 ) . In conclusion , the findings demonstrate the beneficial effects of a low-level , home-based walking program on weight loss in overweight and obese patients with advanced HF
Main Findings : The results indicate that an intervention involving any human factor principles may nearly double an individual ’s probability of not being readmitted .
Principal Conclusions : Interventions with human factor principles reduce readmissions among HF patients .
Background : Human factors play an important role in health-care outcomes of heart failure ( HF ) patients .
A systematic review and meta- analysis of clinical trial studies on HF hospitalization may yield positive proofs of the beneficial effect of specific care management strategies .
Purpose : To investigate how the 8 guiding principles of choice , rest , environment , activity , trust , interpersonal relationships , outlook , and nutrition reduce HF readmissions .