Congestive Heart Failure: A Case Study

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) affects a more people because of the increased survival rate post heart attacks leaving the patients with residual heart problems. According to Dr. Grossman, "in the US: More than 3 million people have CHF, and more than 400,000 new patients present yearly. Prevalence of CHF is 1-2% of the general population" (2006). In an effort to improve patient outcomes the patient education department undertook a project that included the use of common guidelines, Core Measures, to develop an education tool for patient use. The team goal was to promote self-management through patient education and lifestyle changes. After several months of planning and development the CHF tool was put into service. The information provided
According to Goldsmith (2000), "culturally competent care requires a commitment from doctors and other caregivers to understand and be responsive to the different attitudes, values, verbal cues, and body language that people look for by virtue of their heritage." Cholesterol has a significant impact on heart health. Reduction of cholesterol reduces the chances of heart attacks, thus reducing the threat of CHF. The team recognized that the Latino population has the highest median cholesterol level (222.9 mg/dL; 5.76 mmol/L) than any other ethnic group in America (Goldsmith, 2000). This supported the team 's decision to translate this educational material for the Latino population. The meet the needs of the large number of Latino migrant workers in the area the team requested local Latino educators and community workers assist with translation of the document for the Spanish speaking population in the area. Utilization of the Latino community leaders to assist with translation ensured cultural competence of the materials because the translation would consider the nuances of the local Latino culture. Since the materials have been put into service, only 2 Latino patients have been treated and discharged with CHF as a diagnosis. Neither patient has been contacted post discharge
The local forms publisher has been a partner in developing this pamphlet through collaboration and minimal printing in the event changes are requested. With each new publication there will be changes made to improve the outreach and the effectiveness of the materials, for this reason, the team has chosen not to use national or corporate publishers to print the document. In conclusion, nurses play a pivotal role in the caring for the communities we serve (Spitzer, 2004). Nurses serve the community "in multiple capacities from volunteering for health screenings to leading as volunteers, elected officials, or advocates for special causes (Spitzer, 2004). In developing and providing the educational materials CHF patients, the nurses in this community have advocated for improving the quality of life for patients and their families. To be effective in their care the developers considered the characteristics of the population they wanted to serve. Age, socioeconomic, educational, and cultural differences were considered as major variances in developing the pamphlet to educate patients and their families in self management of CHF. Because of these careful considerations the CHF patient education tool will be effective and touch the lives of the very community where the nurses live and