TY - JOUR
T1 - The use of innovative methods designed to relieve social isolation in patients with chronic heart failure; volunteer befriending, forums and a newsletter
AU - Peardon, Louise
AU - Yellowlees, Diane
AU - Pratt, Rebekah
AU - Reid, Janet
AU - O'Donnell, Maureen
AU - Ness, Andrea
AU - Chalmers, Campbell
AU - Leslie, Stephen J.
AU - Denvir, Martin A.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the help of the patients and their carers for the success of these initiatives and completion of feedback forms. Funding from Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland and the Big Lottery Fund is gratefully acknowledged.
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Introduction: Social isolation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is an adverse prognostic factor. This paper reports the creation of a supportive patient/carer network (Heart Failure Support Service), led by a voluntary sector/National Health Service (NHS) partnership which involved volunteer befriending, regular patient and carer forum and a newsletter. The project: Over 3. years, 37 volunteers were 'befrienders' to over 50 individuals with CHF. A thorough training and matching process ensured that the first befriending visit was a positive experience. 100% of patients found the visits from the volunteer worthwhile and said they would recommend the service to other patients. Prior to the first patient-carer forum, 200 questionnaires were sent out with a 56% response rate, 44% of respondents believed that a forum and a newsletter would be valued. Over a period of 3. years, 12 quarterly meetings were held with an average attendance of 30-40 per meeting. The newsletter (current circulation > 800 per quarter) contributed to self-management and encouraged communication between professionals and patients-carers. Conclusions: The Heart Failure Support Service (volunteers, forum and newsletter) created a supportive patient-carer network and represents a successful voluntary sector/NHS partnership.
AB - Introduction: Social isolation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is an adverse prognostic factor. This paper reports the creation of a supportive patient/carer network (Heart Failure Support Service), led by a voluntary sector/National Health Service (NHS) partnership which involved volunteer befriending, regular patient and carer forum and a newsletter. The project: Over 3. years, 37 volunteers were 'befrienders' to over 50 individuals with CHF. A thorough training and matching process ensured that the first befriending visit was a positive experience. 100% of patients found the visits from the volunteer worthwhile and said they would recommend the service to other patients. Prior to the first patient-carer forum, 200 questionnaires were sent out with a 56% response rate, 44% of respondents believed that a forum and a newsletter would be valued. Over a period of 3. years, 12 quarterly meetings were held with an average attendance of 30-40 per meeting. The newsletter (current circulation > 800 per quarter) contributed to self-management and encouraged communication between professionals and patients-carers. Conclusions: The Heart Failure Support Service (volunteers, forum and newsletter) created a supportive patient-carer network and represents a successful voluntary sector/NHS partnership.
KW - Befriending
KW - Chronic heart failure
KW - Voluntary sector
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955325192&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77955325192&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2009.12.001
DO - 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2009.12.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 20080063
AN - SCOPUS:77955325192
SN - 1474-5151
VL - 9
SP - 181
EP - 187
JO - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
JF - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
IS - 3
ER -