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document
Is individual peer support a promising intervention for persons with heart failure ? Peer support has been used effectively in a variety of patient populations , but its effectiveness in improving outcomes in persons with chronic heart failure has not been explored . We trained 9 persons with heart failure to mentor other heart failure patients and tested the effectiveness of this approach in a randomized controlled clinical trial . A low proportion ( 37 % ) of the eligible population of hospitalized patients agreed to participate . At the end of the 3-month trial , there was significantly higher heart failure self-care in the intervention group ( P < .05 ) . The only difference in social support was a significant decline in perceived support reciprocity in the intervention group ( F = 5.94 , P = .004 ) . No significant group differences in heart failure readmissions , length of stay , or cost were evident at 90-days , although the heart failure readmission rate was 96 % higher in the intervention group when compared to that in the control group . The reasons for low overall enrollment and high readmission rates in the intervention group require further study . Including additional self-care education by a professional , rather than leaving all the education to the mentor , could strengthen the peer support intervention trialed in this study . Small group meetings may be less intrusive and more desirable for this patient population .
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Intervention_Psychological
individual peer support
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Intervention_Physical
Peer support
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Intervention_Educational
mentor other heart failure patients
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Outcome_Physical
heart failure self-care
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Outcome_Physical
support reciprocity
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Outcome_Other
heart failure readmissions
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Outcome_Other
length of stay
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Outcome_Other
cost
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Outcome_Physical
heart failure readmission rate
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Outcome_Other
low overall enrollment and high readmission rates
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Participant_Condition
persons with heart failure
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Participant_Condition
persons with chronic heart failure