Effect of a nurse-led follow-up program on the health-related quality of life among patients with heart failure: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. One of the primary consequences of heart failure is the decline in patients’ functional abilities and quality of life. This study investigated the effect of a nurse-led follow-up program on the quality of life among patients with heart failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized-clinical trial, 88 eligible patients with heart failure were selected using purposive sampling. Patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control one. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, the New York Heart Association functional classification tool, and a standardized chronic heart failure and quality of life questionnaire. The experimental group received telephone follow-ups 3 to 7 days postdischarge, guided by a checklist from the Iranian Ministry of Health. The follow-up frequency ranged from 3 days to 3 months after discharge. The control group received only standard follow-up care. Data were analyzed using independent sample t -test, Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and multiple linear regression via SPSS software, V.21. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the mean quality of life scores between the experimental and control groups before the intervention ( P = 0.53). However, after the intervention, a significant difference was observed ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate the positive effect of the nurse-led follow-up program on the quality of life for patients with heart failure. Further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these results and provide stronger evidence.