Patient education in heart failure.

The preparation of chronically ill patients for self-care has traditionally rested on the assumption that patients require certain knowledge and skills. A review of the literature on the subject of patient education in heart failure suggests that although teaching patients about the care of a chronic condition is necessary, it may be more effective if supplemented by continuing reinforcement, symptom monitoring, and behavioral reinforcement by an interdisciplinary team. Nurses have an opportunity and a responsibility to dissect and test the teaching-learning process in heart failure. Evidence that builds on what is already known about patient education will allow nurses to construct protocols that can be adopted as standards of practice and included in electronic health records.