BACKGROUND: For people with chronic heart failure, self-monitoring has been linked with improved body awareness and better communication with health professionals. Cognitive theory and the concept of somatic awareness help explain self-monitoring behaviors. This study compares the clinical and hospital outcomes of heart failure patients who are using and not using a diary to record weight, vital signs and, symptoms and evaluates the diary format. METHODS: All patients enrolling in an outpatient heart failure clinic were given a Heart Health Diary. Seventy patients used the diary and 54 did not. A review of these 124 patients (82 men and 42 women) was completed 6 months after enrollment. RESULTS: Diary nonusers were more likely to be younger women with a lower ejection fraction and worse functional status. Those using a diary had 35% and 47% more contacts via telephone and clinic, respectively. Both groups had significant functional and B-type natriuretic peptide improvement. If hospitalized after enrollment in the heart failure clinic, average length of stay for all hospital admissions for diary users decreased by 58% (P < .002) and average cost per case decreased by 56% (P < .011). Length of stay and cost per case did not significantly change for those not using diaries. CONCLUSION: Diary users showed evidence of improved clinical and hospital outcomes. Further investigation is needed to clarify the characteristics of a diary user and the effect of diary use on self-management and outcomes.
BACKGROUND: For people with chronic heart failure, self-monitoring has been linked with improved body awareness and better communication with health professionals. Cognitive theory and the concept of somatic awareness help explain self-monitoring behaviors. This study compares the clinical and hospital outcomes of heart failurepatients who are using and not using a diary to record weight, vital signs and, symptoms and evaluates the diary format. METHODS: All patients enrolling in an outpatientheart failure clinic were given a Heart Health Diary. Seventy patients used the diary and 54 did not. A review of these 124 patients (82 men and 42 women) was completed 6 months after enrollment. RESULTS: Diary nonusers were more likely to be younger women with a lower ejection fraction and worse functional status. Those using a diary had 35% and 47% more contacts via telephone and clinic, respectively. Both groups had significant functional and B-type natriuretic peptide improvement. If hospitalized after enrollment in the heart failure clinic, average length of stay for all hospital admissions for diary users decreased by 58% (P < .002) and average cost per case decreased by 56% (P < .011). Length of stay and cost per case did not significantly change for those not using diaries. CONCLUSION: Diary users showed evidence of improved clinical and hospital outcomes. Further investigation is needed to clarify the characteristics of a diary user and the effect of diary use on self-management and outcomes.
Authors: Christopher S Lee; Barbara Riegel; Andrea Driscoll; Jom Suwanno; Debra K Moser; Terry A Lennie; Victoria V Dickson; Jan Cameron; Linda Worrall-Carter Journal: Int J Nurs Stud Date: 2009-05-13 Impact factor: 5.837
Authors: Linda G Park; Kathleen Dracup; Mary A Whooley; Charles McCulloch; Chengshi Jin; Debra K Moser; Robyn A Clark; Michele M Pelter; Martha Biddle; Jill Howie Esquivel Journal: Circ Heart Fail Date: 2017-11 Impact factor: 8.790
Authors: Lisa M Vizer; Jordan Eschler; Bon Mi Koo; James Ralston; Wanda Pratt; Sean Munson Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2019-04-29 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Karen Smith; Chim Lang; Jennifer Wingham; Julia Frost; Colin Greaves; Charles Abraham; Fiona C Warren; Joanne Coyle; Kate Jolly; Jackie Miles; Kevin Paul; Patrick J Doherty; Russell Davies; Hasnain Dalal; Rod S Taylor Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2021-01-06