Computer-based education for patients with chronic heart failure : A randomised, controlled, multicentre trial of the effects on knowledge, compliance and quality of life

• OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a single-session, interactive computer-based educational program on knowledge, compliance and quality of life in heart failure patients with special emphasis on gender differences.METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients, mean age 70 years, from five heart failure clinics were randomised to either receiving only standard education (n = 72) or standard education and additional computer-based education (n = 82).RESULTS: Knowledge was increased in both groups after 1 month with a trend towards higher knowledge (P = 0.07) in the computer-based group. The increase in knowledge was significantly higher in the computer-based group after 6 months (P = 0.03). No differences were found between the groups with regard to compliance with treatment and self-care or quality of life. The women had significantly lower quality of life and did not improve after 6 months as the men did (P = 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Computer-based education gave increased knowledge about heart failure. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Computers can be a useful tool in heart failure education, but to improve compliance a single-session educational intervention is not sufficient. Gender differences in learning and quality of life should be further evaluated.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Heart failure

Computer-based education

Patient education

Intervention

Self-care

Nursing

Compliance

Quality of life

Knowledge

Gender

SOCIAL SCIENCES

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP

compliance

nursing

self-care

intervention

patient education

heart failure

computer-based education

quality of life

knowledge

gender

MEDICINE

Nursing

Vårdvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)