Congestive Heart Failure and Re-hospitalizations

Discovery 

Congestive heart failure (CHF) and related ailments are a leading cause of patient hospitalization, mortality, and unproductivity among the Americans (Chen et al., 2013, p. 3). Besides, CHF costs governments millions in terms of medical expenses and lost productivity. The leading factor towards these statistics is inadequate information among health care providers, caregivers, and patients. One way through which knowledge discovery can be improved is through a study on cultural and religious beliefs that affect diet and self-care maintenance programs (Peterson et al., 2012). An understanding of these practices helps nurses suggest possible replacements that are not harmful but still maintain patients’ cultural and religious traditions. Examples of practices are seasoning of foods with salt or talking sacred alcoholic wines, which can be substituted with natural food additives and unfermented fruit drinks, respectively. 

Teaching 

Self-care in persons living with CHF conditions is a process that involves making correct decisions in the prevention of symptoms and the management of symptoms whenever they occur. Prevention approaches include daily physical activities, proper diets, and monitoring of weight and intake of fluids. Management of symptoms may consist of actions such as reaching out to medical professionals and increase of diuretic doses. Patients have been known to overrate their knowledge about CHF, thus the need for increased patient education efforts (Berrios-Thomas et al., 2018). Teaching all these vital activities to patients requires the use of modern technology that is efficient and accessible. Electronic gadgets applications are potentially valuable in such a teaching need. The applications have set reminders and counters that prompt patients to carry out routine activities, monitor, and communicate the completed tasks. 

Application to clinical practice 

Congestive heart failure patient's ability to follow a strict diet and physical activities has been shown to be poor, leading to high rates of hospitalization and mortality (Chen et al., 2013, p. 7). Increased knowledge and monitoring applications provide a system through which patient education and adherence to a strict diet and physical activities shall improve. The net effect on patients has reduced hospital hours and unproductivity, reduced mortality rates, reduced costs of medication. 

Interdisciplinary integration 

Collaboration from telecommunication discipline benefits this project to a great extent. The new technology requires telecommunication and software experts to enable efficient delivery of patient education through electronic applications, as is in the case of telehealth systems (Levine & Côté, 2011). Similarly, communication between patients and nurses benefits from mass media communication disciplines. 

References 

Berrios-Thomas, S., Engel, R., McCall, J., & Rosen, D. (2018). Assessing knowledge regarding managing congestive health failure symptoms: Differences in patient and professional scores.  Journal of Patient Experience ,  5 (4), 289-295.  https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373518765793 

Chen, A. M., Yehle, K. S., Albert, N. M., Ferraro, K. F., Mason, H. L., Murawski, M. M., & Plake, K. S. (2013). Health literacy influences heart failure knowledge attainment but not self-efficacy for self-care or adherence to self-care over time.  Nursing Research and Practice ,  2013 , 1-8.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/353290 

Levine, D., & Côté, F. (2011). The role of Telehealth in Quebec’s healthcare reform.  International Journal of Integrated Care ,  11 (6).  https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.690 

Peterson, P. N., Campagna, E. J., Maravi, M., Allen, L. A., Bull, S., Steiner, J. F., Havranek, E. P., Dickinson, L. M., & Masoudi, F. A. (2012). Acculturation and outcomes among patients with heart failure.  Circulation: Heart Failure ,  5 (2), 160-166.  https://doi.org/10.1161/circheartfailure.111.963561