The purpose of this research study is to learn about the use of a cell phone for monitoring patients with heart failure. Participants will be asked questions about their heart failure daily and participants will need to answer them. The investigator will try to assess if the questions are easily understood by the participants. The investigator will also assess if the phone-based system for monitoring is easy to use by the participants. The investigator will also assess if the daily questions and interactions increase the self-efficacy, knowledge, and quality of life of participants related to their heart failure.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
61
Participants responded to questions about their heart failure symptoms using a cell phone.
Miami VA Healthcare System
Miami, Florida, United States
Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease
This was used from the Chronic disease self-management program scales. (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research). Well-validated scale rating patient's confidence in managing chronic illness. It covers several areas of chronic diseases including symptom control, role functions, emotional functioning, and communicating with physicians. The English version has 6-items, while the Spanish version has 4-items.16 Using a Likert scale with item scores ranging from 1 to 10; scale score is the mean of the items.
Time frame: 90 days
Health Distress Scale
This was used from the Chronic disease self-management program scales. (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research). Measures the distress associated with health problems over the last month. Using a Likert scale with item scores ranging from 0 to 5, scale score is the mean of the four items.
Time frame: 90 days
Communication with Physicians
This was used from the Chronic disease self-management program scales. (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research). Measures key behaviors to assess how well patients communicate with their healthcare providers. Using a Likert scale with item scores ranging from 0 to 5, scale score is the mean of the three items.
Time frame: 90 days
Fatigue Visual Numeric
This was used from the Chronic disease self-management program scales. (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research). Assesses self-reported fatigue in the past 2 weeks. This visual numeric scale is a modified version of the visual analog scale. It uses 10 bars of different heights and shading intensity.
Time frame: 90 days
Shortness of Breath Visual Numeric
This was used from the Chronic disease self-management program scales. (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research). Assesses self-reported shortness of breath in the past 2 weeks.
Time frame: 90 days
Heart Failure Self-Efficacy Scale-30
30-item scale developed for self-efficacy with heart failure overall and with medications, diet, symptoms, activity, and heart failure readmission. Using a Likert scale with item scores ranging from 0 to 10, scale score is the mean of the items.
Time frame: 90 days
European Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale
12-item questionnaire assesses self-care behavior of patients with heart failure. Using a Likert scale with item scores ranging from 1 to 5, scale score is the sum of responses.
Time frame: 90 days
Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale
15-item questionnaire assesses heart failure knowledge in general, knowledge on heart failure treatment (including diet and fluid restriction) and heart failure symptoms and symptom recognition. Each correct answer gets one point and total score ranges from 0 to 15.
Time frame: 90 days
Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire
21-item questionnaire assesses HF specific quality of life, using a 6-point Likert scale with item scores ranging from 0 to 5, scale score is the sum of responses.
Time frame: 90 days
The Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form
36-item quality of life instrument used to evaluate perception of general health status, functional ability, and well-being.
Time frame: 90 days
Usability survey
31-item scale developed for this study to assess the participants' satisfaction with 7 aspects of the intervention using a 7-point Likert scale with item scores ranging from 1 to 7 (7 being best), and total score is the mean of responses. Patients were also asked open-ended questions in order to obtain an in-depth understanding of individual experiences, perceptions, concerns and feedback.
Time frame: 90 days
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