Perceptions and Acceptability of Receiving SMS Self-care Messages in Chinese Patients With Heart Failure: An Inpatient Survey.

BACKGROUND: Self-care is critical for postdischarge heart failure (HF) patients. Short message service (SMS) is a promising way to promote HF self-care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate knowledge status in Chinese HF patients, as well as the acceptance of SMS as a way to improve self-care. METHODS: A survey using a self-developed questionnaire was conducted in patients with decompensated HF 2 days before discharge. RESULTS: A total of 540 patients completed the survey. Among them, only 69.8% and 63.3% of patients were aware of their HF status and medication regimen, respectively. A total of 95.6% patients were willing to receive SMS. Patient himself/herself, caregiver, or both patient and caregiver were almost equally selected as the preferred receiver of SMS. Educational and/or reminder SMS was considered "very helpful" by 50.2% of the patients as a way of promoting self-care, similar to that of telephone education and brochure education. "Take your medicine", "avoid getting flu," and "keep follow-up" were regarded as the most important self-care contents, whereas "weigh yourself every day" and "restrict fluid intake" were considered the least important. CONCLUSION: As a way of promoting HF self-care, SMS intervention combining educational and reminder function might be well accepted by HF patients in China. The status of HF, medication, weight control, and fluid restriction should be emphasized during the practice. Caution should be drawn as the survey was not tested elsewhere. Further clinical trials would be conducted to examine the effect of SMS intervention on self-care behaviors and outcomes of HF patients.

Learning needs of Chinese patients before undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Abstract This study aimed to determine the learning needs of Chinese patients going for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in order to design nurse-led education programs. A self-administered survey was completed by a total of 395 patients prior to the procedure. Face-to-face communication was chosen by 343 (86.8%) patients as the most preferred way of education. Doctor-in-charge was ranked as the most wanted educator by 372 (94.2%) patients, including 191 (45.4%) patients who chose both doctor-in-charge and nurse-in-charge. Interventional cardiologist was preferred by patients with higher education more than those with lower education (63.6 vs. 48.1%, P < 0.05). Learning items such as self-rescue on heart attack, efficiency of PCI and post-procedural medication were regarded as the most important, which could be affected by age, gender and educational level. These findings would help to develop patient preferred programs that involve brief communications with doctors and more structured education activities led by nurses.

Learning Need of Chinese Patients before Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Abstract This study aimed to determine the learning needs of Chinese patients going for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in order to design nurse led education programs. A self-administered survey was completed by a total of 395 patients prior to the procedure. Face-to-face communication was chosen by 343 (86.8%) patients as the most preferred way of education. Doctor-in-charge was ranked as the most wanted educator by 372 (94.2%) patients, including 191 (45.4%) patients who chose both doctor-in-charge and nurse-in-charge. Interventional cardiologist was preferred by patients with higher education more than those with lower education (63.6% vs. 48.1%, p<0.05). Learning items such as self-rescue on heart attack, efficiency of PCI and post-procedural medication were regarded as the most important, which could be affected by age, gender and educational level. These findings would help to develop patient preferred programs that involve brief communications with doctors and more structured education activities led by nurses.