# Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention With Home Visits and Telephone Follow‐Up on Knowledge and Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial

## TL;DR

A nurse-led educational program with home visits and phone calls improved heart failure patients' knowledge and quality of life more than usual care.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that post-discharge home visits and phone follow-ups enhance patient outcomes in heart failure.

## Key findings

- 82% of the intervention group had adequate heart failure knowledge at 60 days versus 38% in the control group.
- 73% of the intervention group reported good quality of life compared to 33% in the control group.

## Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart failure (HF), are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Limited patient knowledge about HF is associated with poor treatment adherence and worse health outcomes, emphasizing the importance of educational interventions. This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse‐led educational intervention combining home visits and telephone follow‐up on patients' knowledge and quality of life (QoL). Conducted in six Brazilian hospitals, the study included 120 patients hospitalized with decompensated HF and randomly assigned to a control group (CG) or an intervention group (IG). The IG received structured education at discharge, followed by home visits on days 7, 30, and 60 and telephone follow‐up on days 15 and 45, while the CG received usual care. Outcomes were assessed at 60 days. At this time point, adequate HF knowledge was observed in 82% of patients in the IG compared with 38% in the CG, and good QoL in 73% versus 33%, respectively (p < 0.001). The intervention was effective in improving knowledge and QoL in patients with HF.

A nurse‐led educational intervention involving home visits and telephone follow‐up was associated with greater disease‐related knowledge and improved quality of life among patients with heart failure compared with usual care.Educational interventions extending beyond the hospitalization period contribute to sustained improvements in patient‐reported outcomes.

A nurse‐led educational intervention involving home visits and telephone follow‐up was associated with greater disease‐related knowledge and improved quality of life among patients with heart failure compared with usual care.

Educational interventions extending beyond the hospitalization period contribute to sustained improvements in patient‐reported outcomes.