Improving patient empowerment for patients with chronic heart failure

The last 20 years have seen a great development in the medical treatment of chronic heart failure and patients generally live longer with the disease today. Research shows that knowledge of worsening symptoms and how to respond to symptoms improves patient self-care behaviour and quality of life. Furthermore, awareness of worsening symptoms has shown tendency in reducing re-admissions.

Several studies have explored various types of technological solutions for patients with different heart diseases and have found that technology generally has a positive effect on the patients’ awareness of and involvement in their own disease. But more information is needed on whether patient empowerment and self-care can be improved with a technological solution. Other studies show that technology can be a barrier, especially for elderly patients. As incidences of chronic heart failure increase with age, we need more knowledge on how a technological solution can be adapted to the elder population, and whether it can improve the quality of life and empowerment of relatives.

AIM

The overall aim of this PhD project is to improve patient empowerment and quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure and their relatives by exploring current practice of chronic heart failure management in the outpatient clinic. Furthermore, the project will develop a customised technological solution in close collaboration with the users (patients, relatives and healthcare professionals).

The objectives of the study are to:

• Explore current clinical practice in the outpatient clinics for patients with chronic heart failure and investigate the needs of patients and relatives as well as the perspectives of healthcare professionals.
• Design and develop a technology based on identified needs.
• Test the technology in clinical practice and evaluate if it is feasible, suitable and acceptable.

PARTNERS

The project is rooted in the Cardiology Outpatient Clinic at the Department of Internal Medicine and Acute Medicine, OUH Svendborg Hospital.

The project is a PhD project by Natassia Kamilla Juul.

EXTERNAL FUNDING

The project is funded by the EU project ADLIFE and the Department of Internal Medicine and Acute Medicine at OUH Svendborg Hospital.