Table 4. Comparison of learning needs priorities between patients and healthcare providers according to question items.
| Questionnaire items | Heart failure patients | Healthcare providers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 100) | (n = 20) | ||||
| Mean ± SD | Rank | Mean ± SD | Rank | ||
| I need to know (or teach) | |||||
| Q 1 | …why I am short of breath | 3.96 ± 1.24 | 17 | 4.05 ± 1.00 | 23 |
| Q 2 | …what the heart looks like and how it works | 3.41 ± 1.53 | 40 | 3.70 ± 1.26 | 40 |
| Q 3 | …what cause heart failure | 3.89 ± 1.28 | 21 | 3.95 ± 1.10 | 27 |
| Q 4 | …what happens when someone has heart failure | 4.04 ± 1.11 | 11 | 4.45 ± 0.95 | 3 |
| Q 5 | …can the heart’s function improve | 3.96 ± 1.10 | 18 | 4.20 ± 0.83 | 17 |
| Q 6 | …if any other tests will be done after I leave the hospital | 3.39 ± 1.35 | 41 | 3.85 ± 0.88 | 34 |
| Q 7 | …the reason for further testing after I go home | 3.47 ± 1.35 | 38 | 4.30 ± 0.92 | 8 |
| Q 8 | …where my family can go to learn CPR | 3.31 ± 1.44 | 44 | 3.85 ± 1.23 | 32 |
| Q 9 | …the normal emotional response to having a chronic illness | 3.47 ± 1.31 | 39 | 3.40 ± 0.94 | 48 |
| Q10 | …the importance of talking to someone about my fears, feelings, and thoughts | 3.35 ± 1.40 | 43 | 3.55 ± 1.23 | 43 |
| Q11 | …what effect stress has on my heart | 3.89 ± 1.19 | 22 | 3.80 ± 1.15 | 35 |
| Q12 | …what I can do to reduce stress while in the hospital | 3.60 ± 1.30 | 33 | 3.40 ± 1.14 | 45 |
| Q13 | …what I can do to reduce stress when I go home | 3.69 ± 1.24 | 29 | 3.70 ± 1.17 | 41 |
| Q14 | …what support groups are available | 2.94 ± 1.48 | 47 | 3.75 ± 1.02 | 38 |
| Q15 | …which factors may have contributed to the onset of my heart disease | 3.66 ± 1.33 | 30 | 3.40 ± 1.10 | 46 |
| Q16 | …how these factors affect the heart | 3.73 ± 1.30 | 27 | 3.65 ± 1.04 | 42 |
| Q17 | …what I can do to improve my heart function | 4.08 ± 1.13 | 7 | 4.25 ± 1.02 | 10 |
| Q18 | …general rules about taking medications | 4.01 ± 1.20 | 14 | 4.35 ± 0.93 | 5 |
| Q19 | …why I am taking each medications | 4.03 ± 1.22 | 13 | 4.25 ±0.91 | 11 |
| Q20 | …what the side effects of each medications are | 4.04 ± 1.29 | 10 | 4.15 ± 0.75 | 20 |
| Q21 | …what to do if I have problems with medications | 4.16 ± 1.20 | 4 | 4.15 ± 0.88 | 19 |
| Q22 | …how to adapt to taking medications every day | 4.05 ± 1.10 | 9 | 4.10 ± 0.91 | 22 |
| Q23 | …general rules about eating | 3.72 ± 1.27 | 28 | 4.21 ± 0.71 | 15 |
| Q24 | …how diet affects my heart disease | 3.86 ± 1.20 | 23 | 4.25 ± 0.72 | 13 |
| Q25 | …what the words sodium, salt, and NaCl mean | 3.61 ± 1.39 | 32 | 4.05 ± 0.76 | 24 |
| Q26 | …what my diet restrictions are, if any | 4.06 ± 1.13 | 8 | 4.20 ± 0.77 | 18 |
| Q27 | …how to adapt the recommended diet to my lifestyle | 3.92 ± 1.15 | 19 | 4.20 ± 0.89 | 16 |
| Q28 | …what fluid restriction means | 3.55 ± 1.23 | 35 | 4.30 ± 0.73 | 9 |
| Q29 | …how to adapt the recommended fluid restriction to my lifestyle | 3.55 ± 1.25 | 34 | 4.25 ± 0.72 | 13 |
| Q30 | …why daily weights are needed | 3.08 ± 1.32 | 45 | 4.10 ± 1.02 | 21 |
| Q31 | …how to adapt daily weights to my lifestyle | 3.03 ± 1.38 | 46 | 3.90 ± 0.85 | 30 |
| Q32 | …how alcohol affects the heart | 3.82 ± 1.27 | 25 | 4.40 ± 0.68 | 4 |
| Q33 | …why I may not be able to do as much physically as I could before developing heart failure | 3.99 ± 1.17 | 15 | 3.90 ± 0.64 | 31 |
| Q34 | …general guidelines for physical activity | 3.86 ± 1.14 | 24 | 3.95 ± 0.83 | 29 |
| Q35 | …what my physical activity restrictions are, if any | 3.90 ± 1.22 | 20 | 4.05 ± 0.69 | 25 |
| Q36 | …how to tell if I can increase my activity | 3.75 ± 1.22 | 26 | 3.80 ± 0.61 | 36 |
| Q37 | …when I can engage in sexual activity | 2.32 ± 1.41 | 48 | 3.55 ± 0.89 | 44 |
| Q38 | …how significant my heart failure is | 4.03 ± 1.23 | 12 | 4.35 ± 0.75 | 7 |
| Q39 | …what advanced directives are | 3.49 ± 1.53 | 37 | 3.75 ± 1.21 | 37 |
| Q40 | …what is my long-term life expectancy | 3.38 ± 1.43 | 42 | 3.40 ± 1.10 | 46 |
| Q41 | …what can happen if I do not follow my doctor’s recommendations | 4.28 ± 1.07 | 1 | 4.25 ± 0.91 | 11 |
| Q42 | …what my quality of life is expected to be | 3.65 ± 1.17 | 31 | 3.85 ± 1.04 | 33 |
| Q43 | …what advice should be given to my family in the event of a sudden death outside the hospital | 3.98 ± 1.26 | 16 | 3.70 ± 1.38 | 39 |
| Q44 | …what symptoms are caused by heart failure | 4.10 ± 1.16 | 6 | 4.35 ± 0.81 | 6 |
| Q45 | …what are the signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure | 4.19 ± 1.14 | 3 | 4.50 ± 0.51 | 2 |
| Q46 | …what I should do if symptoms worsen | 4.24 ± 1.07 | 2 | 4.50 ± 0.61 | 1 |
| Q47 | …when to call the doctor | 4.15 ± 1.11 | 5 | 4.00 ± 1.12 | 26 |
| Q48 | …the signs and symptoms of other heart problems | 3.54 ± 1.40 | 36 | 3.95 ± 0.89 | 28 |
Ranks are presented from the best to the worst score.