Self-reported conditions have become increasingly important in patient care, and perceived loneliness and social relationships in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are not sufficiently investigated. AIM: The aim was to investigate perceived loneliness and social support in patients with CHF. Further, to investigate whether loneliness and social support might be associated with gender, age, healthcare utilization and mortality. METHODS: One hundred and forty nine patients with CHF, hospitalised at least once during a 4-month period in 2006, completed a self-reported questionnaire including measurements about loneliness and social support. Healthcare utilization was assessed prospectively by frequency of readmissions and number of days hospitalised during 1 year. RESULTS: Loneliness was reported by 29 (20%) participants. They were more often women (p<0.001) and younger (p=0.024). Patients who perceived loneliness had fewer social contacts (p=0.033), reported lower occurrence of emotional contacts (p=0.004), were less satisfied with social contacts and close relationships (p<0.001). Those reporting loneliness had more days hospitalised (p=0.044), and more readmissions to hospital (p=0.027), despite not having more severe CHF. CONCLUSION: Loneliness is a health-related risk indicator in that patients with CHF who perceived loneliness have more healthcare utilization than those who do not report loneliness despite not having more severe CHF.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate if family members of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) increased knowledge about CHF through a group-based multi-professional educational programme and whether there was an effect on patients' health care utilization. METHODS: Family members (n=128) were randomly assigned to intervention-group (IG) who received CHF education programme or control-group (CG) who received information according to hospital routines. Programme effects were evaluated with CHF knowledge questionnaire, patient readmissions and number of days hospitalised during 18 months. RESULTS: Knowledge about CHF increased in both groups, significantly higher in IG at second assessment (IG 16±1.9 vs. CG 14.9±2.1, p=0.006), and knowledge maintained at third assessment. In IG 17 patients were re-admitted at least once and 28 patients in CG due to CHF (p=0.085). There were no differences in frequency of readmissions or number of days hospitalised. CONCLUSION: A group-based multi-professional education programme increased family members' knowledge about CHF. Despite this, effect on patient's health care utilization could not be seen during follow-up period. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: We suggest that CHF education programmes for family members should be provided at clinics, with information preferably repeated 2-3 times during a period of six months to maintain knowledge level.

Aims and objectives.  To evaluate the effect of a group-based multi-professional educational programme for family members of patients with chronic heart failure with regard to quality of life, depression and anxiety. The secondary aim was to investigate the impact of social support and sense of coherence on changes in quality of life, anxiety and depression during the period of the study. Background.  When a person is diagnosed with heart failure, the daily life of the family members is also affected. Design.  Randomised controlled trial. Methods.  A total of 128 family members were randomly assigned to participate in a multi-professional educational programme or a control group. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. Results.  There were no significant differences in anxiety, depression or quality of life between the intervention group and control group. Adequacy of social network was the only independent variable that explained levels of anxiety and depression after 12 months beyond baseline levels of anxiety (p < 0·001, R(2)  = 0·35) and depression (p = 0·021, R(2)  = 0·37). Younger family members were found to have a higher quality of life (p < 0·01). Conclusion.  Improved disease-related knowledge may need to be combined with other target variables to induce desired effects on depression, anxiety and quality of life of family members. Antecedents of depression and anxiety, such as sense of control, may need to be specifically targeted. Our results also suggest that intervention aimed at enhancing social support may be beneficial for family members. Relevance to clinical practice.  Anxiety and depression did not decrease nor did quality of life improve after the intervention. An educational programme for family members with a component specifically targeting anxiety, depression and quality of life warrants testing. Furthermore, it is important that health care providers understand the influence of social support on anxiety, depression and quality of life when interacting with family members.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate how family members of persons with chronic heart failure (CHF) experienced a group-based multi-professional educational programme.Methods: Family members who participated in an educational programme filled in an evaluation form directly after completing the programme (n = 53). One year after the completed programme family members (n = 11) who participated in 5-6 of six sessions were interviewed about their experience. The interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: The evaluation form showed that most family members reported satisfaction with session structure and content, but a majority would have preferred to share the education together with the ill person. Interview findings are presented in three categories and eight subcategories identified through the analysis. Results showed that family members’ increased knowledge about heart failure and thereby attained a greater understanding of the ill person’s situation with an increased tolerance. Furthermore the family members acquired a better self-confidence and became a resource for the ill person and they described that they were more actively involved in the ill person’s self-care. Family members experienced it positive to meet others in the same situation. They also gained an insight into the importance of taking care of their own health. Conclusions: The educational programme produced valuable knowledge and understanding about heart failure among family members. With this newly acquired knowledge, family members had the possibility of working out appropriate support for the ill person. Being part of a group with others in the same situation was a positive experience.