Effect of an Educational Program Based on the Partnership Care Model on Treatment Adherence in Patients with Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Treatment adherence is a cornerstone of heart failure management and is closely associated with reduced hospital readmissions and improved clinical outcomes.Despite advances in patient education and disease management, achieving sustained patient engagement in the care process remains challenging.Objectives: To evaluate the effect of an educational program based on the partnership care model on treatment adherence among patients with heart failure.Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 100 patients with heart failure who attended the Heart Failure Clinic at Tehran Heart Center, Iran, in 2022.Participants were allocated to either the intervention or control group using permuted block randomization with a block size of four and a 1:1 allocation ratio.The intervention group participated in an educational program based on the partnership care model, which comprised four collaborative educational sessions followed by two collaborative follow-up sessions.The control group received routine educational care provided by the clinic.Data were collected using a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire and a researcher-developed treatment adherence questionnaire.Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, independent-sample t test, and paired-sample t test.Results: Following the intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher mean scores for medication adherence, lifestyle adherence, and overall treatment adherence than the control group (all p < 0.001).Within-group analysis also showed a significant improvement in treatment adherence after the intervention among participants in the intervention group.In contrast, no statistically significant change was observed in the control group (p > 0.05).Conclusion: An educational program based on the partnership care model improved treatment adherence among patients with heart failure.Incorporating this approach into routine nursing care may help improve treatment adherence and support patient participation in the management of heart failure.Implications for Nursing and Midwifery Preventive Care  Integrating the Partnership Care Model into preventive nursing practice may improve treatment adherence through greater patient and family engagement. These findings may guide interventions to enhance self-care, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve clinical outcomes.