KEEPING HEART FAILURE PATIENTS AT HOME

Abstract

This qualitative study focused on the needs of heart failure patients in relation to staying at home and out of hospital. The patient’s view was seen as critical as the literature predominantly identifies patients’ needs from the health care professional’s perspective. The findings highlight the fact that people with heart failure do not identify they have ‘needs’ in terms of living, but rather they accomplish tasks in day to day living using the knowledge they have been given. Recommendations from this research include reevaluation and further development of current hospital based programs, extension of these programs into the community and greater communication between the heart failure patient and the health care team.