Heart at Home- a Self-care Study

Active Comparator: Telemonitoring assisted self-care

Telemonitoring group was given a home-care package including a weight scale, a blood pressure meter, a mobile phone and self-care instructions. The measurements taken at home to be uploaded were: diastolic and systolic blood pressure, pulse, body weight and an assessment of symptoms. The symptom assessment concerned the patient's feelings of dizziness, dyspnea, palpitation, weakness and, oedema. Patients were also asked to evaluate their overall condition- whether their condition had deteriorated, improved or remained unchanged. The patients were advised to carry out and report the measurements together with the self-assessment once a week. The responsible nurse followed patients' status and the data once a week or more frequently if needed. Based on the reported measurements, the nurse could invite the patient for a control visit. In case a patient did not make self-measurements as planned , the nurse contacted the patient and reminded him/ her to continue with monitoring.

Laite: Telemonitoring assisted self-care

Telemonitoring group was given a home-care package including a weight scale, a blood pressure meter, a mobile phone and self-care instructions. The measurements taken at home to be uploaded were: diastolic and systolic blood pressure, pulse, body weight and an assessment of symptoms. The symptom assessment concerned the patient's feelings of dizziness, dyspnea, palpitation, weakness and, oedema. Patients were also asked to evaluate their overall condition- whether their condition had deteriorated, improved or remained unchanged. The patients were advised to carry out and report the measurements together with the self-assessment once a week. The responsible nurse followed patients' status and the data once a week or more frequently if needed. Based on the reported measurements, the nurse could invite the patient for a control visit. In case a patient did not make self-measurements as planned , the nurse contacted the patient and reminded him/ her to continue with monitoring

Ei väliintuloa: Control group

Control group received usual care that includes multidisciplinary care approach in which patients receive guidance and support for self-care. In the care of heart failure (HF) patients, the cardiac team plays a central role in monitoring and interpreting patient symptoms, optimizing medication and providing education. The cardiac team consists of two physicians, one specialized heart failure nurse and a physiotherapist who helps after a hospitalization period. As part of the care process, patients capable of carrying out self-care are identified and they are encouraged to regularly measure their blood pressure, heart rate and weight at home. So far, the information exchange between heart failure patients and care personnel has taken place during patients' visits to the clinic and by telephone. Systematic collection and exploitation of the self-measurement data has been difficult, since it depends on the patient's own activity

Number of HF-related Hospital Days

Number of heart failure related hospital days

Death

Death from any cause

Heart Transplant

Heart transplant operation or listing for transplant operation

P-proBNP

Change in plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide propeptide from baseline to the end of the study.

EHFSBS (European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale ) Scores

Change in self-care behaviour measured by the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale (EHFSBS). EHFSBS is a 12-item self-administered questionnaire specifically designed and tested for heart failure patients including statements on self-care behaviour essential in the care of HF. The statements are scored from one to five. The lower the score, the better the performance in self-care. The summary score is analysed.

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Change in left ventricular ejection fraction from baseline until the end of the study

Utilization of Health Care Resources

Number of visits to nurse's reception

Plasma Concentrations of Creatinine, Natrium, and Potassium From the Baseline to the End of the Study

Change in plasma concentrations of creatinine, natrium, and potassium