Development and delivery of a multilingual online heart failure course for cardiology nurses: a collaborative initiative between ACNAP and the HFA

Abstract Background Cardiology nurses often face barriers in accessing educational materials due to language constraints, financial support and access limiting their professional development in heart failure (HF) management1, 2. To address this, the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and the Association of Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Professionals (ACNAP) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) collaborated to develop a comprehensive HF course tailored for non-English-speaking nurses. Methods The course content was developed by ACNAP experts in HF, ensuring alignment with current HF management guidelines as well as empowering nurses to understand their role in the HF MDT, advocacy, and leadership (image 1). Professional translation services were employed to translate the material into Russian, Spanish, Serbian, and Italian. Initially intended for in-person delivery, the course was transitioned online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling continued education without geographical or financial limitations. The course structure included a preliminary online session to outline objectives and expectations, followed by two days of intensive instruction by a local faculty of HF experts. Participants underwent a pre-assessment to determine baseline HF knowledge and an identical post-assessment to evaluate knowledge acquisition (image 2). Results The course was delivered once in each language and attracted a total of 212 participants across the four language groups (37 from Russia, 40 from Spain, 29 from Serbia, and 58 from Italy). Pre-assessment scores averaged 63%, highlighting the need for targeted HF education among nurses. Post-assessment results demonstrated an improvement, with average scores rising to 76%. Participant satisfaction was high, with 91% stating they were satisfied with the course content, 95% stating the content was appropriate, and 96% stating it would impact their clinical practice. Conclusion This ESC collaborative initiative successfully developed and implemented a multilingual online HF course, effectively enhancing the knowledge base of cardiology nurses across different languages and countries. The positive outcomes underscore the importance of accessible, language-specific educational resources in improving HF management competencies among nursing professionals.