The Effect of a Nurse-led Daily Weight Monitoring Intervention (Wake and Weigh) on Heart Failure Quality of Life and Self-care
Lee Anne Siegmund
Summary
Ongoing self-care for heart failure is essential to avoid complications and hospitalization. Supportive strategies are needed; however, patients with heart failure may find many interventions complicated and overwhelming. The purpose of this pilot study is to implement a simple weight tracking tool (Wake and Weigh) to affect self-care and quality of life in a population of older adults with heart failure. This will be a randomized controlled pilot trial to test the methods to be used in a larger randomized controlled trial. The Self-care in Heart Failure Index and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire surveys will be given at admission and four weeks after discharge. The Wake and Weigh tool is designed to help patients track weight in the hospital and following discharge. Feasibility endpoints will be summarized descriptively.
Description
Research question: Are the methods used in a pilot study that is designed to implement a nurse-led daily weight monitoring intervention, appropriate for a larger study to be conducted later, which will test the intervention's effect on self-care and quality of life among older adults with heart failure, compared to those who receive routine care? It may be unrealistic to expect patients to have the agency to perform adequate self-care when they are living with activity-limiting symptoms, and perceive that heart failure (HF) self-care instructions are complicated. Given that HF symptoms interfe…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 55+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adults (55 years or older) 2. New or existing diagnosis of HF (regardless of type or length of time since diagnosis). 3. Being treated for HF signs and/or symptoms during the current hospitalization (any of the following: IV diuretic, fluid restriction, low sodium diet). 4. Must be able to read and communicate in English. 5. Must be able to stand and weigh independently. 6. Must have a scale at home, or ability to obtain one for the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Documented diagnosis of cognitive impairment. 2. A Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of \>4. This was chosen…
Interventions
- BehavioralWake and Weigh
The Wake and Weigh tool includes the patient's dry weight and instructions for daily weight monitoring. Participants in the intervention group will be instructed on the use of the tool. While in the hospital, weight is being managed by the healthcare team, so the goal during hospitalization is to educate the patient on what to do once discharged, and to recognize changes in weight.
- BehavioralUsual care
The usual care group will receive the heart failure handbook that is routinely given to heart failure patients.
Location
- Cleveland Clinic Avon HospitalAvon, Ohio