The Effect of Mobile Health Applications on the Knowledge of Patients of Heart Failure

Abstract

Background: A lack of knowledge among patients with Heart Failure represents a significant problem that could lead to an increase in adverse outcomes, such as the length of hospitalization; and readmission rate. Objective: This study aimed to identify the effects of mobile health education applications on the knowledge of patients with Heart Failure and identify the associated factors that would contribute to patients’ knowledge. Methods: A Quasi-experimental design (two groups pretest-posttest design). A non-probability convenient sample of 160 patients was recruited. The participants were assigned randomly to an experimental group and a control group. The Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge scale was used to assess patients’ levels of knowledge. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Result: The total number of participants was 126. The overall Jordanian patients’ level of knowledge regarding the non-pharmacological management of Heart Failure was moderate (M= 9.4, SD=2.07). Significant differences between study groups were found in terms of levels of knowledge. The intervention group (M=12.26, SD=2.36)  had significantly higher mean scores of knowledge level about Heart Failure compared to the control group (M=9.76, SD=2.01); t=6.361, p=.000). The result of the regression analysis was significant (adjusted R2  =.222, F(16,109)= 3.226, P=.000). Conclusion: Mobile health education applications could be a promising solution for managing different chronic diseases, particularly patients with HF. The implication to Nursing: Mobile health could be a more cost-effective approach to patient education than other traditional approaches recently applied in clinical practice.

Keywords

• heart failure
• patient education
• knowledge
• telehealth
• and mobile application