Do Heart Failure Patients Practice Self-management

cant. A substantial proportion of both nurses and doctors had concerns about patient safety, even though no adverse events were formally recorded in the database. Conclusions: Though the participants of the survey agree on the efficiency of the SSU in providing beds to the hospital, they disagree on aspects that are important in the functioning of the SSU, including the working environment, patient selection and clinical safety. The results highlight potential issues that could be improved or addressed and that are relevant to the rollout of SSUs across NSW. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.05.175 175 Incorporating a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory Clinical Placement into a Post Graduate Cardiac Nursing Course Liz Scholes, Serina Cecchin, Kath Cowie ∗ , Maria Jolic Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Background: Conventionally the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (CCL) has not been utilised to provide a substantial clinical placement in a post graduate cardiac nursing course. The growth of interventional cardiology has changed the management of the acute cardiac patient, making the CCL a significant clinical experience. Aims: To include a substantial supported clinical rotation to the CCL for nurses undertaking the Post Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Nursing. Method: The clinical component of the course was redesigned to include a clinical rotation each semester to the CCL. Objectives and clinical hurdles relevant to the CCL were developed based on expected outcomes and consistent with the theoretical component of the course. Clinical support in the CCL was provided by the cardiac nurse educators (CNEs), nurse unit manager (NUM), and the students’ preceptors (experienced CCL nurses). Focus groups were conducted to appraise the students’ progress and evaluate the rotation. The students’ focus group was conducted by an independent interviewer. Results: Focus groups revealed the students, cardiac nurses, cardiologists and other cardiology staff perceived the rotation as beneficial. Students were directly involved in the initial management of the acute STEMI patient, including reperfusion arrhythmias with haemodynamic instability, waveform analysis, IABP insertion as well as other interventional cardiac procedures. Conclusion: A substantial non-supernumerary rotation to the CCL can be successfully incorporated into a post graduate cardiac nursing course. Contributors to the success of the placement include a commitment from the students, NUMs, CNEs and the CCL staff, along with a CNE presence in the CCL. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.05.176

Abstracts

S75 ABSTRACTS

Heart, Lung and Circulation 2008;17S:S1–S209

176 Do Heart Failure Patients Practice Self-management Anne Sullivan 1,∗ , Robyn Cleary 1 , Geraldine Gillies 1 , Susan Hales 1 , Robyn Gallagher 2 , Vanessa Baker 1 , Geoffrey Tofler 1 1 MACARF 2 University

Program, Northern Sydney, NSW, Australia; of Technology, Sydney, Australia

Introduction: An important goal of Heart Failure Management programmes is to empower patients to understand their condition, identify early signs of deterioration and act appropriately to attend to this change. While education typically occurs in hospital or soon after discharge, the ongoing level of knowledge among patients is uncertain. Methods: We conducted a telephone survey of 49 patients enrolled in the Management of Cardiac Function (MACARF) program, average age 82 years (range 67–98), 53% male, at 6.7 months (range 1–14 months) following a heart failure admission to determine the level of knowledge and behaviour. Results: Knowledge of correct diet

80%

Weigh daily

50%

Weigh 2–3 times weekly

20%

Understand reason for weighing

55%

Comfortable with taking medications

73%

Recognition of signs and symptoms of exacerbation

69%

Knowledge of action plan

24%

Conclusion: Heart failure patients have quite good knowledge of the appropriate behaviour and medication use. However, patients require further assistance on the action to take in the presence of an exacerbation of symptoms. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.05.177 177 How Useful is an Educational Website to a 75 years old? Utilization of Information Technologies in Elderly Cardiovascular Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital Clinic John Maddison, Melanie Day ∗ , Jennifer Morran, Sepehr Shakib Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia Background/Aims: Education regarding selfmanagement and self-monitoring are cornerstones of successful cardiovascular disease management. Increasingly, information technological solutions are proposed as effective means of assisting the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, there is little literature supporting the use of these technologies in the elderly. Our aim was to audit patient utilisation of various types of information technology, in a patients cohort being treated in a multi-disciplinary chronic disease clinic. Method: All patients were mailed a self-administered survey.