Effects of Nurse‐Led Interventions on Quality of Life and Self‐Care Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Nurses are pivotal in promoting self-care among patients with heart failure (HF), particularly by educating them on how to prevent potential complications and rehospitalisations. Meanwhile, optimal self-care in patients with heart failure is a positive predictor of improved physical and mental health, which are core domains of quality of life (QOL). This systematic review aims to identify available evidence on the effectiveness of nurse-led education on the QOL and self-care in patients with HF. METHODS: A detailed literature search was performed in six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest and PsycNet) guided by the PRISMA guidelines to retrieve relevant articles published between 2015 and 2022. The results were checked for eligibility criteria, followed by performing quality appraisal and data synthesis. RESULTS: Overall, 19 articles were found to be eligible and relevant for the analysis. Descriptively, the interventions comprised different components, including self-care knowledge and skills, illness representation, cognitive behavioural intervention, motivation, social and emotional support, coping strategies, setting goals, problem-solving and action planning. The delivery methods were mainly face-to-face interaction, verbal education and the use of written materials, while follow-ups entailed telephone calls and home visits. Most nurse-led interventions, particularly those combining educational and psychological components, led to significant improvement in self-care and QOL. CONCLUSION: The findings imply that nurse-led interventions can be provided by utilising diverse methods to improve self-care and QOL among patients with HF. Further studies are required to ascertain the long-term effect and the most effective component of these educational interventions.