Referral and use of heart failure clinics: what factors are related to use?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Heart failure (HF) clinics have been shown to reduce hospital readmissions and generally have favourable effects on quality of life, survival, and care costs. This study investigated the rates of referral and use of HF clinics and examined factors related to program use.

Methods

This study represents a secondary analysis of a larger prospective cohort study conducted in Ontario. In hospital, 474 HF inpatients from 11 hospitals across Ontario completed a survey that examined predisposing, enabling, and need factors affecting HF clinic use. Then 1 year later, 271 HF patients completed a mailed survey that assessed referral to and use of HF clinics.

Results

Forty-one patients (15.2%) self-reported referral, and 35 (13%) self-reported attending an HF clinic. Ge

SUBMITTER: Gravely S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4494832 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature