• J Mårtensson, A Strömberg, U Dahlström, J-E Karlsson, and B Fridlund.
• Department of Cardiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping S-551 85, Sweden. jan.martensson@ltjkpg.se
• Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2005 Mar 16; 7 (3): 393-403.

AimsTo determine the effects of a nurse-led intervention designed to improve self-management of patients with heart failure in a primary health care setting regarding health-related quality of life and depression.MethodsPatients at eight primary health care centres were screened by the Diagnosis Related Groups registry for the diagnosis of heart failure and eligibility for a cluster randomised study. A total of 153 patients were included (n=78 in the intervention group, 54% males, mean age 79 years, 59% in New York Heart Association class III-IV). The intervention involved patient and family education about heart failure and self-management and monthly telephone follow-up during 12 months by a primary health care nurse.ResultsThe effects of the nurse-led intervention were limited. Significant differences were found in the physical dimension measured by the SF-36 health survey, and in depression measured by the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale. In comparison within groups at the 3 and 12-month follow-up, the intervention group significantly maintained their health-related quality of life measured by the SF-36 health survey, and their experience of depression measured by the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale to a greater extent than in the control group, especially among women.ConclusionA nurse-led intervention directed toward patients with heart failure in a primary health care setting resulted in limited effects between the groups, although the physical and mental status were retained during 12 months of follow-up to a greater extent than in the control group.

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