Patient education tools are key to the follow- up of chronic heart failure patients

Patient education at the core of heart failure management  The 2012 ESC guidelines for the management of chronic heart failure emphasize risk stratification and patient education. These are the essential topics that should be covered during patient education and the skills and self-care behaviors that should be taught in relation to these topics: Educational topicPatient skills and self-care behaviors Definition and etiology Understand the cause of heart failure and why symptoms occur PrognosisUnderstand important prognostic factors and make realistic decisions Symptom monitoring and self-care Monitor and recognize signs and symptoms Record daily weight and recognize rapid weight gain Know how and when to notify health care provider In the case of increasing dyspnea or edema or a sudden unexpected weight gain of >2 kg in 3 days, patients may increase their diuretic dose and/or alert their health care team Use flexible diuretic therapy if appropriate and recommended after appropriate education and provision of detailed instructions European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure Eur Heart J. 2012;33:

Impact of disease management programs on mortality Roccaforte R et al. Eur J Heart Fail. 2005;7:

Impact of disease management programs on rehospitalization Roccaforte R et al. Eur J Heart Fail. 2005;7:

Patient education tool in heart failure A patient education tool is an important pillar in modern cardiovascular disease management, and will: - Help patients to learn about their disease, symptoms, warning signs, and medication - Include role plays and scenarios to help patients respond better to disease-related events - Improve heart failure patient follow-up - Be adaptable to any disease A French heart failure department, headed by Professor Patrick Jourdain, has created a heart failure education tool the aim being to improve care for patients with an ongoing or stable medical condition. It teaches patients and their families or friends more about heart failure and its treatment and gives advice on what to do about the disease in everyday life. The heart failure team (doctors, nurses...) organizes the game. A tool box contains: o A board o The rules of the game o Specific “Knowledge” cards o Specific “Role Play” cards relating to a situation that puts the patient at risk o or that requires a particular reaction o 6 “Player” counters o A 6-sided die o 50 colored health points