Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of audio-visual health educational materials on CPAP adherence: the AHEAD trial.

Study Objectives: Educational interventions have been proposed to improve continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence; however, studies to date have not demonstrated robust effectiveness, due to methodological issues. Furthermore, these educational interventions have not specifically targeted low health literacy communication techniques, which have been demonstrated to improve outcomes in numerous other chronic diseases. We hypothesized that the addition of low-cost audio-visual educational videos (EVs) to usual standard-of-care (SC) education would improve CPAP adherence in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome.

Health literacy assessment in the clinic: benefits, pitfalls and practicalities.

Approximately 60% of Australians have low or marginal health literacy, which is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with chronic disease. Patient-centred strategies (such as reduced medical jargon, use of pictograms, multimedia narratives) are effective in improving outcomes for many chronic diseases, with the impact being greatest in individuals with low health literacy. However, clinicians need a reliable and practical tool for assessing health literacy, the results of which help inform the choice of communication techniques best tailored to deliver information to patients.

Adequate health literacy is associated with adherence to continuous positive airway pressure in adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease with significant health implications and adequate adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is essential for effective treatment. In many chronic diseases, health literacy has been found to predict treatment adherence and outcomes. In this study, the aim was to determine the health literacy of a sleep clinic population and evaluate the association between health literacy and CPAP adherence.

Teacher-as-actor: Investigating the barriers and facilitators of patient education among hospitalized patients in a cardiology clinical unit.

Patient education enables people with cardiovascular disease to develop self-management behaviors. This study aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to teaching patients in a clinical cardiology unit with a single site qualitative investigation involving 21 registered nurses attending four focus groups. This study identified barriers related to patient factors including individual characteristics and responses to education, comorbidities, acuity, and evolving diagnosis, while for nurses the barriers were lack of knowledge and expertise.

Beyond Access Block: Understanding the Role of Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy in Low-Acuity Emergency Department Patients.

Health literacy, self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction are factors associated with healthcare utilization. The relationships among these factors and their combined impact on patients' self-rated health have historically been studied in chronic disease populations. This study assessed low-acuity emergency department (ED) patients' ratings of these factors, the relationships among these factors, and their effect on re-presentation rates to the ED.

The effectiveness of pharmacist- led discharge medication counselling in the emergency department (ExPLAIN): A pilot quasi-experimental study.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist-led discharge medication counselling using a structured, multimodal educational strategy with teach-back (intervention) against standard care.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study in a public, metropolitan ED. Participants discharged home with new medications were allocated to receive the intervention or standard care using convenience sampling.

Patient preferences for the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: To elicit patients' preferences for cardiac rehabilitation(CR).

Methods: A Discrete Choice Experiment was used to quantify patients' preferences for the delivery of CR. This survey-based method elicited the relative importance of different characteristics of a program.

Simulation for emergency nurses (SIREN): A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Within nursing education, simulation has been recognised as an effective learning strategy. Embedding simulation within clinical units has the potential to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. However it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of this educational technique to support the actual value and effectiveness.

Self-care educational intervention to reduce hospitalisations in heart failure: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: A variety of educational interventions have been implemented to assist patients with heart failure to maintain their own health, develop self-care behaviours and decrease readmissions.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multimedia educational intervention for patients with heart failure in reducing unplanned hospital readmissions.

Methods: The study, a randomised controlled trial in a large tertiary referral hospital in Australia, recruited 200 patients.

The Self-care Educational Intervention for Patients With Heart Failure: A Study Protocol.

Background: A variety of educational interventions have been implemented to assist patients with heart failure (HF) to maintain their own health, develop self-care behaviors, and decrease readmissions. The most effective approach to education has yet to be established.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a multimedia educational intervention for patients with HF in reducing hospital readmissions.

What have our patients learnt after being hospitalised for an acute myocardial infarction?

Background: Education for hospitalised patients is an important aspect of care for people who have an acute cardiovascular event.

Objective: To investigate the cardiovascular risk factor behaviours of patients together with their acute coronary syndrome (ACS) knowledge, attitudes and beliefs following admission to hospital for an acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction participated in an observational study.

Education material for heart failure patients: what works and what does not?

Patient education is an important element of care, but evidence with regard to education material is not always apparent, as it is intertwined with educational strategies as components of heart failure management programs. Difficulties have arisen in determining the effectiveness of particular education strategies, as multiple strategies are commonly bundled together and packaged within research protocols. To further complicate this issue, the bundles are diverse, lack precision in describing their components, and report different outcomes.

The need to address poor numeracy skills in the emergency department environment.

Substantial evidence exists for lack of numerical skills among many health professionals. Although poor numeracy has long been recognised as a contributor to medication error, other activities for which numerical literacy are required, such as interpretation of diagnostic results, have been largely ignored. Poor self-awareness of lack of numerical literacy increases the risk, especially in the busy and hurried emergency environment.

Decimal numbers and safe interpretation of clinical pathology results.

Objective: To determine the understanding of decimal numbers by medical laboratory scientists, doctors and nurses.

Methods: A Decimal Comparison Test determined the comprehension of decimals numbers. Additional questions sought the participants' understanding of concentrations and reference ranges, and their preferences for the presentation of clinical pathology results.

In-hospital cardiac arrests: effect of amended Australian Resuscitation Council 2006 guidelines.

Objective: To evaluate cardiac arrest outcomes following the introduction of the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) 2006 amended guidelines for basic and advanced life support.

Methods: A retrospective study of all consecutive cardiac arrests during a 3-year phase pre-implementation (2004-06) and a 3-year phase post-implementation (2007-09) of the ARC 2006 guidelines was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in Brisbane, Australia.

Results: Over the 6-year study phase 690 cardiac arrests were reported.

Cardiac clinical skill assessments for registered nurses.

This article outlines a framework of clinical skill assessments that identify the knowledge and skills required for safe and competent care of cardiac patients. This framework categorizes identified cardiac skills into a logical sequence for assessment, aims to standardize the assessment process, and allows transportability of clinical skills.

Pilot testing of a self-care education intervention for patients with heart failure.

Background: A key component of the structured approach to the management of chronic heart failure (CHF) is effective patient education. Patient education is a precursor to performing appropriate health-related behaviours that can decrease rehospitalizations.

Aim: To pilot test an educational intervention and to determine the efficacy of a self-care manual combined with a DVD for patients with CHF.

Educational interventions for patients with heart failure: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Patient education is an important intervention for the management of heart failure; however, in practice patient education varies considerably.

Aim: : To systematically review educational interventions that have been implemented for heart failure patients and assess their effectiveness.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials from 1998 to 2008 in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychInfo, EMBASE, and Cochrane were reviewed using the following search terms: patient education, education, educational intervention, self-care in combination with heart failure.

Learning for heart failure patients (The L-HF patient study).

Aim And Objective: To investigate the learning style and preferences for information delivery of heart failure patients for the purpose of informing the design of educational resources.

Background: Patient education is a vital component of heart failure management programmes however the content and delivery of education varies in each programme. Traditionally education programmes for patients have focussed on educational needs as identified by health care providers however research has shown there are discrepancies between patients' and nurses' perceptions of the learning needs of heart failure patients.

Learning style and learning needs of heart failure patients (The Need2Know-HF patient study).

Background: Heart failure management programs which include education are the gold standard for management of patients with heart failure. Identifying the learning styles and learning needs of heart failure patients is an essential step in developing effective education strategies within these programs.

Aim: To investigate the learning style and learning needs of heart failure patients.