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 .
Randomized trial of a nurse-administered, telephone-based disease management program for patients with heart failure.
BACKGROUND Heart failure is a common and important cause of morbidity and mortality . Disease management offers promise in reducing the need for hospitalization and improving quality of life for heart failure patients , but experimental data on the efficacy of such programs are limited . METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 151 patients hospitalized with heart failure were r and omized to usual care or scheduled telephone calls by specially trained nurses promoting self-management and guideline -based therapy as prescribed by primary physicians . Nurses also screened patients for heart failure exacerbations , which they managed with supplemental diuretics or by contacting the primary physician for instructions . Outcomes included time to hospital encounter , mortality , number and cost of hospitalizations , functional status , and satisfaction with care . Intervention patients had a longer time to encounter ( hazard ratio [ HR ] = 0.67 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 0.47 - 0.96 ; P = .029 ) , hospital readmission ( HR = 0.67 ; CI 0.46 - 0.99 ; P = .045 ) , and heart failure-specific readmission ( HR = 0.62 ; CI 0.38 - 1.03 ; P = .063 ) . The number of admissions , hospital days , and hospital costs were significantly lower during the first 6 months after intervention but not at 1 year . The intervention had little effect on functional status , mortality , and satisfaction with care . CONCLUSION A nurse-administered , telephone-based disease management program delayed subsequent health care encounters , but had minimal impact on other outcomes
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 .