Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Leslie C. Hussey

Abstract

Transitions of care is a model designed to ensure that patients have resources needed to assist them to care for themselves at home after hospital discharge, which helps to decrease preventable adverse events. For people with heart failure (HF) to transition home from the hospital successfully, specific education is needed that is individualized to the disease process, but most patients' educational needs after discharge are unmet. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by the Meleis middle range theory of transition, was to explore the perspectives of people with HF about their educational needs in order to gather data that could inform better care practices for them once they are discharged from the hospital. Twelve participants with HF were interviewed post hospital discharge about their education experience at discharge and what they felt was needed for them to be successful in caring for themselves after discharge. Data were analyzed, and three themes emerged: discharge preparation, lifestyle changes, and transitions of care. Participants indicated that they had a positive experience with the education provided, that they had to make changes to their daily routines, and that the transition of care program was beneficial in helping them successfully care for themselves after discharge. Further studies should interview people of different ethnicities with HF, should include multiple sites in the study, and should extend the research to people with other illnesses to gain their perception of discharge education. Results contribute to positive social change because individuals with HF who know how to care for themselves at home will be able to improve their quality of life as they can effectively transition to home from the hospital setting.

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