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Clinical Trial
. 2006 Jun 24:6:30.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2261-6-30.

Effects of an interactive CD-program on 6 months readmission rate in patients with heart failure - a randomised, controlled trial [NCT00311194]

Agneta Björck Linné  1 , Hans Liedholm
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effects of an interactive CD-program on 6 months readmission rate in patients with heart failure - a randomised, controlled trial [NCT00311194]

Agneta Björck Linné et al. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Disease-management programmes including patient education have promoted improvement in outcome for patients with heart failure. However, there is sparse evidence concerning which component is essential for success, and very little is known regarding the validity of methods or material used for the education.

Methods: Effects of standard information to heart failure patients given prior to discharge from hospital were compared with additional education by an interactive program on all-cause readmission or death within 6 months. As a secondary endpoint, patients' general knowledge of heart failure and its treatment was tested after 2 months.

Results: Two hundred and thirty patients were randomised to standard information (S) or additional CD-ROM education (E). In (S) 52 % reached the endpoint vs. 49 % in (E). This difference was not significant. Of those who completed the questionnaire (37 %), patients in (E) achieved better knowledge and a marginally better outcome.

Conclusion: The lack of effect on the readmission rate could be due to an insufficient sample size but might also indicate that in pharmacologically well-treated patients there is little room for altering the course of the condition. As there was some indication that patients who knew more about their condition might fare better, the place for intensive education and support of heart failure patients has yet to be determined.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00311194.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient distribution in the trial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time to first event in the intervention group (dotted line) and the control group (straight line).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time to first event of those in the intervention group (dotted line) and the control group (straight line) who answered the questionnaire.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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