Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of an Empowerment-Based Self-care Education Program on Health Outcomes Among Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Doris Sau-fung Yu, Polly Wai-chi Li, Shirley Xue Li, Robert D. Smith, Sunny Chiu-Sun Yue, Bryan P. Y. Yan
Journal: JAMA Network Open (2022)

<h3>Importance</h3> Strategies that enhance self-care of patients with heart failure reduce mortality and health care use. <h3>Objective</h3> To examine whether an empowerment-based self-care education program was more effective and cost-effective to improve self-care, health status, and hospital service use than a didactic education program in patients with heart failure. <h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, a consecutive sample of 988 patients with heart failure from the cardiac clinics of 2 regional hospitals underwent eligibility screening from February 1, 2017, to May 31, 2019, using the criteria of age of 55 years or older, heart failure diagnosed 6 months before screening, and New York Heart Association class II to IV. A total of 236 participants were randomized to the empowerment (n = 118) or education (n = 118) group. <h3>Interventions</h3> The 12-week, group-based, empowerment-based education program included self-care assessment, goal-orientated actions in symptom recognition and response, fluid and dietary modification, and lifestyle management. Didactic education covered the same topics without empowerment strategies. <h3>Main Outcomes and Measures</h3> The primary outcome was self-care measured by the Self-care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) maintenance, management, and symptom perception subscales at posttest and 3-month end points. Secondary outcomes included measures of knowledge, confidence, health-related quality of life, and health service use. Direct, indirect, and social costs of the 2 programs were collected for cost-effectiveness analysis. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 236 Chinese patients (mean [SD] age, 70 [8.0] years; 149 [63.1%] men) were included in the study. The empowerment group reported significantly greater improvement in SCHFI management scores (mean difference, 13.76; 95% CI, 5.89-21.62; Cohen<i>d</i> = 0.46 at posttest and Cohen<i>d</i> = 0.35 at 3 months) and symptom perception scores (mean difference, 20.36; 95% CI, 13.98-26.75; Cohen<i>d</i> = 0.84 at posttest and Cohen<i>d</i> = 0.61 at 3 months). The empowerment group had lower risks of emergency department attendance (incidence rate ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.95;<i>P</i> = .03) and hospital admission (incidence rate ratio, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.21-0.68;<i>P</i> = .001) and better improved self-care knowledge (change in score [empowerment minus education], 1.29; 95% CI, 0.48-2.09) and confidence (change in score [empowerment minus education], 7.98; 95% CI, 1.91-14.05). Empowerment was cost-saving and cost-effective at T2 compared with the education group for quality-adjusted life-years, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of −114 485. <h3>Conclusion and Relevance</h3> In this randomized clinical trial, an empowerment approach led to clinically relevant improvement in symptom perception and self-care management among patients with heart failure. Its cost-effectiveness in improving these prognostic factors also benefits the patient-reported outcome. <h3>Trial Registration</h3> Chinese Clinical Trial Registry:ChiCTR-IOR-16008254