Patient-centred home-based management of heart failure. Findings from a randomised clinical trial evaluating a tablet computer for self-care, quality of life and effects on knowledge.
To evaluate whether a new home intervention system (HIS, OPTILOGG(®)) consisting of a specialised software, a tablet computer (tablet) wirelessly connected to a weight scale may improve self-care behaviour, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), knowledge about heart failure (HF) and reduce hospital days due to HF.
82 patients (32% females) with mean age: 75 ± 8 years hospitalised with HF were randomised at discharge to an intervention group (IG) equipped with the HIS or to a control group (CG) receiving standard HF information only. The tablet contained information about HF and lifestyle advice according to current guidelines. It also showed present dose of diuretic, changes in patient-measured weight and HRQoL over time.
After 3 months the IG displayed a dramatic improvement in self-care with p