Knowledge Retention in Older Adults with Heart Failure and Impact on Readmission

Abstract

People are living longer due to the development of improved care modalities and older adults comprise the most rapidly growing percentage of the population (National Council on Aging, 2016). Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), a complication of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), is a frequently diagnosed disease syndrome in this age group and is associated with increased hospital admissions because of its complexity (Ding, Yehle, Edward & Griggs, 2014). Decreased length of stay, additional comorbidities and perceptual/functional deficits also place elderly individuals at risk for acute care readmissions within 30 days or less (Whittaker, Sonia & Erich, 2015). The frequency of early readmissions is problematic from both a quality of care and cost perspective (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2014). If patients are considered clinically stable at discharge it is important to investigate what issues contribute to these rates and are they addressed comprehensively. Transfer from the hospital setting to the home environment is a vulnerable transition period and can result in potential setbacks (Albert, Trochelman, Li & Lin, 2009; Moser, Doering & Chung, 2005). The Discharge Planning Process, a broad spectrum of education and identification of needed services, can be implemented at various times during a hospital stay based on the facility’s protocol (Hunter, Nelson & Birmingham, 2013). Patients and families need accurate information and time to absorb the material in order to manage possible setbacks using learned self-care skills (Paul, 2008; Rockwell & Riegel, 2001). The quality of educational content is critical to building confidence in self-care management (Rockwell & Riegel, 2001).D.N.P., Nursing Practice -- Drexel University, 201