S Barnason et al. Pilot Testing of a Medication Self-Management Transition Intervention for Heart Failure Patients. Western Journal of Nursing Research, August 11, 2010.

Barmason and colleagues conducted a pilot study that examined the impact of a hospital transition intervention for older adults (>/= 65 years of age) with heart failure (HF) to promote self-management of medication use. Forty subjects, hospitalized with either primary or secondary HF, had a mean age of 76.9 +/- 6.5 years; 65% were males. The majority of subjects (55%) had NYHA Class III HF. A prospective, repeated measures experimental design was used. Baseline and follow-up data (1- and 3-months after hospitalization) were obtained using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index, Brief Medication Questionnaire, Drug Regiment Unassisted Grading Scale, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Using repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with baseline measures as covariates, the transition intervention group had higher levels of medication adherence (F(1,35) = 13.4, p < .001), self-efficacy for HF self-care (F(1,35) = 17.9, p < .001), and significantly fewer HF related symptoms that impaired health related quality of life (F(1,35) = 9.1, p = .006).

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The pilot study cries out for a full-scaled investigation with the collection of long-term follow-up data. The outcome measures appear highly appropriate for this type of investigation; however, frequency of drug taking and dose levels should also be gathered.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE CONSUMER: Learning and performing self-management skills is appropriate for anyone with a chronic illness, including patients with heart failure.