EFFECT OF NURSING CARE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE
The article presents results of the original research on the improvement of quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure by means of optimization of nursing care. It is shown that close observation and monitoring for all nursing recommendations significantly improves the quality of life of patients that was assessed by The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ).
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an actual medical and social problem in the world because of high prevalence, mortality rates and marked declining of quality of life (QL). Management of patients with CHF in our country is not conducted in accordance to international standards because of lack of specializied nursing care and monitoring support.
The aim of the research. The aim of our study is to improve the QL of patients with CHF by means of optimization of nursing care.
Materials and methods of research. QL of patients with CHF were evaluated by The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), which comprehensively covers all physical and psychological aspects of impairments in the patients with CHF. There were two study groups comparing QL: the intervention group of 150 patients received detailed recommendations for life style modification, diet and physical activity, - were under continuous observation of nurses; the comparison (control) group of 148 patients were managed conventially in the attached district out-patient clinics. Evaluation of QL was performed over one month. The total score and scores on separated parameters (swelling of ankles and legs, difficulties in climbing stairs, restrictions in diet, breathlessness, feeling depressed) were improved statistically significant in the intervention group, whereas these data were unchanged in the comparison (control) group.
Conclusions. Therefore, QL of patients with CHF is deteriorated as physically and social-psycologically. Optimization of nursing care of patients with CHF by means of special programmes of continous observation and monitoring can markedly enhance QL of patients with CHF.