Pilot Testing of the Home Care Education, Assessment, Remote-Monitoring, and Therapeutic Activities Intervention
Home Health Care Management & Practice
Published online on May 12, 2014
Abstract
The primary aim of this pilot study was to develop, implement, and test the feasibility and efficacy of the Home Care Education, Assessment, Remote-Monitoring, and Therapeutic Activities (HEART) trial, a nurse-directed multicomponent home care intervention. A total of 50 patients with a primary diagnosis of heart failure (HF) were assigned to the intervention (n = 26) or control group (n = 24) according to geographical location in a large multibranch Medicare-certified home health agency. Forty-six patients completed the study. Patients participating in the HEART intervention demonstrated significantly improved HF knowledge (F = 1.31, p < .001) in comparison with control group patients’ at the study endpoint. There was a non-significant trend toward improved quality of life (QOL) and lower hospital readmission rates (6 patients vs. 9 patients) in the intervention group.