Information till hjärtsviktspatienter under vårdtiden på sjukhus
En empirisk studie
Heart failure is the most common reason to hospitalization among persons over 65 years old. Self-care is an important part in the treatment of heart failure, but poor information and knowledge limits the ability of self-care and increases the risk of admission to hospital.The aim of the study was to investigate what information patients with heart failure describes that they receive from health care personal, how information is perceived, who provides the information, and on what occasions it is given. The aim was also to investigate whether patients' perception of knowledge about heart failure increased after hospitalization.The study is cross-sectional study with a descriptive design. A consecutive selection was used. A questionnaire was filled in by 28 participants.The study has shown that patients with heart failure largely experience information about heart failure inadequate. At firsthand the participants had been informed about swelling legs, dyspnea and increased weight. The information was highly described as comprehensible and individualized.Only one third of the participants described that they have been informed by a nurse. A few of the participants experienced increased knowledge about heart failure after the hospitalization.The information that is given to patients with heart failure is highly experienced as individualized and comprehensible but is given in insufficient extend, as the result demonstrate that many patients with heart failure completely lack information. A routine for heart failure caretaking that include information is required.