Key result
Virtual HF group appointments linked to fewer hospitalizations and improved self-care versus historical controls.
Why the study?
Patients with HF were susceptible to COVID-19 complications, creating a need for alternative communication methods for patient education during pandemic-related social isolation and reduced health-care resources.
Do virtual group appointments reduce hospitalizations and improve self-care behaviors in Veterans with heart failure?
Do virtual group appointments reduce hospitalizations and improve self-care behaviors in Veterans with heart failure?
Virtual group appointments for veterans with heart failure during the COVID-19 pandemic successfully improved self-care behaviors and reduced hospitalizations.
May support virtual group appointments in Veterans with HF; hypothesis-generating and requires randomized confirmation.
This report on a quality improvement initiative describes a multi-professional approach to improving self-care behaviors and reducing hospitalizations in Veterans with heart failure (HF) by implementing virtual group appointments. Patients with HF are more susceptible to complications related to COVID-19 infection, creating the need for alternative communication methods for patient education during the social isolation and reduced health-care resources brought on by the global pandemic. From March 2020 to June 2021, 57 Veterans participated in 1 of 12 group appointments at the VA Portland Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. Each group was led by a multi-professional team who provided education on self-care behaviors, nutrition, medications, and mental health impacts of HF. Chart reviews and pre-/post-self-care behavior questionnaires showed that the virtual group HF appointments were associated with a decrease in hospitalizations, compared to previous data with the same population, and self-reported self-care behaviors improved from pre- to post-questionnaire. Group appointments offer a unique educational and motivational experience for those with HF and provide the ability to engage with each other during challenging times.
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Hansen et al. (2023) studied Heart failure (n=57). Virtual group appointments vs. Previous data with the same population was evaluated on Hospitalizations and self-care behaviors. Virtual group appointments for Veterans with heart failure were associated with decreased hospitalizations and improved self-reported self-care behaviors compared to historical data.
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