Key result
Nurses score ~83% on heart failure knowledge, excelling in warning signs but lagging in lifestyle education.
Why the study?
Knowledge gaps among nurses in heart failure assessment and management may compromise care quality, necessitating assessment of their knowledge and patient-education practices.
Cross-Sectional (n=190)
No
While nurses in a Pakistani cardiac institute showed strong recognition of heart failure warning signs, significant gaps in knowledge regarding fluid, diet, and activity management highlight the need for standardized continuing education.
High HF knowledge scores with activity/fluid gaps support targeted nurse training; leaves open whether closing them improves patient self-care outcomes.
Background: Heart failure causes morbidity, recurrent hospitalization, and healthcare expenditure. Nurses are central to symptom surveillance, medication management, discharge preparation, and self-care education; consequently, knowledge gaps may compromise care quality.Objective: To assess nurses’ knowledge, confidence, and patient-education practices related to heart failure assessment and management at Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Pakistan.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 190 nurses selected through simple random sampling. Eligible participants had at least one year of nursing experience and cared for patients with heart failure. Data were collected face to face using a demographic and practice questionnaire incorporating the Nurses’ Knowledge of Heart Failure Education Principles instrument. Responses were summarized with frequencies and percentages in SPSS version 25.Results: Most participants were female (94.21%), held a bachelor’s degree in nursing (66.32%), and were fairly or completely confident in caring for patients with heart failure (86.84%). However, only 26.84% provided heart failure education often or always, whereas 44.21% did so rarely or never. Across 20 knowledge items, the mean correct response rate calculated from frequencies was 83.05%. The lowest correct-response rates concerned avoiding activity (51.58%), unrestricted daily fluid intake (63.68%), nocturnal breathing difficulty (63.68%), and recurrence despite adherence to medication and lifestyle advice (70.53%). Recognition was strongest for reduced exercise capacity or leg weakness (99.47%), abdominal swelling (97.37%), hypotension (94.21%), and rapid weight gain (94.21%).Conclusion: Nurses showed strong recognition of warning signs but retained gaps in activity, fluid, diet, and chronic-disease education. Structured continuing education and standardized discharge teaching are warranted.
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Nazakat et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart failure (n=190). Heart failure care knowledge and education practices was evaluated on Knowledge of heart failure assessment and management (mean correct response rate across 20 items). Nurses achieved a mean correct response rate of 83.05% on heart failure knowledge items, showing strong recognition of warning signs but retaining gaps in activity, fluid, and diet education.
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