Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Health Services

Advisor

Marilyn Murphy

Abstract

More than 5 million Americans have heart failure, with approximately 5% of those affected being veterans. As the number of patients with CHF continues to rise, new treatment options are needed to improve the quality of care. Current studies show Telehealth is one treatment option. The purpose of this scholarly project was to determine if veterans diagnosed with CHF were able to maintain optimal weight and blood pressure following participation in Care Coordination Home Telehealth (CCHT) program. The CCHT program provides care to veterans, through the use of monitoring devices placed in their home. Bandura's self-efficacy theory was used as a guide to develop veterans' self-management skills. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 26 veterans with CHF enrolled in the CCHT program. Post participation weight and blood pressure were analyzed at 16 weeks to determine whether there was a difference from the pre-participation measures. There was no change in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or weight levels during the 16-week period. Limitations of this project were the small sample size (n = 26), attrition rate (n = 43), no data on nurse interaction, and a short follow-up period. Implications for nursing practice and enhancing the program's efficacy are recommended. This scholarly project has the potential to support social change by expanding veteran's access to care.

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