https://doi.org/10.4081/scenario.2025.623
Nursing telephone follow-up and outcomes in heart failure patients: a retrospective observational study
Submitted: 30 January 2025
Accepted: 13 May 2025
Published: 13 June 2025
Accepted: 13 May 2025
Abstract Views: 81
PDF: 48
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Introduction: Heart Failure (HF) is associated with high rates of rehospitalization and mortality. Nursing telephone follow-up is rec- ognized as effective in ensuring adequate continuity of care and reducing post-discharge complications.
Objective: to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led telephone follow-up program on reducing hospital readmissions and mortality at 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge for HF.
Materials and Methods: the retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Cardiology outpatient clinic of a spoke hospital in northeastern Italy. Two groups of patients with heart failure (HF) were compared, one of which underwent telephone fol- low-up.
Results: in the first 6 months, the group without follow-up had an average of 0.56 hospital readmissions compared to 0.2 in the fol- low-up group (P=0.004). Six-month mortality was 20% in the group without follow-up and 4% in the follow-up group (P=0.014). Between 7 and 12 months, differences in readmissions and mortality were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: telephone follow-up conducted by trained nursing staff, aimed at comprehensive care including symptom monitoring and nursing coaching, during the 6 months following hospitalization for acute HF has a significantly positive impact on the number of hospital readmissions and mortality.
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How to Cite
Janjic, I., Caldarola, A., Graceffa, G., Lardieri, G., Tuzzi, A., & Creatti, C. (2025). Nursing telephone follow-up and outcomes in heart failure patients: a retrospective observational study. Scenario® - Il Nursing Nella Sopravvivenza, 42(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/scenario.2025.623
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