Effect of continuous care model on self-care behaviors in heart failure patients: a randomized controlled trial (Continuous care model for self-care behaviors promotion)

Background: The prevalence ratio of heart failure is significantly increased, especially in low and middle-income countries. Adoption of self-care behaviors effectively and efficiently might be reducing the costs in result of heart failure outcomes and complications from the disease. This study aimed to determine the effects of the continuous care model on self-care behaviors in heart failure patients. Methods: A Randomized controlled trial with Pre-test/Post-test control group design was conducted on some 80 patients with heart failure. The subjects in this study were randomly assigned to intervention (n=40) and control group (n=40). In the experimental group, Continuous care model applied for a period of three months from April to the end of June 2016, and self-care behaviors in heart failure patients in the two groups before and after the implementation of continuous care models were compared. Data collection tools included two parts: Demographic characteristics and specific questionnaire of self-care heart failure index. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 20, chi-square, independent T, and paired test. Results: The mean score of the Self-Care Behaviors before the intervention, at the intervention and control group were 28.33 ± 12.72 and 26.99 ± 1.96 respectively (P= 0. 663). But after the intervention, mean score of the Self-Care Behaviors in the intervention and control groups were 50.86 ± 11.96 and 28.93 ± 10.96 respectively (P 0.0001). Conclusion: Implementation of the continuous care model can lead to improving self-care behaviors in heart failure patients.