Actual status of pre-discharge knowledge of hospitalised patients with heart failure and measurement tools to assess said knowledge: A scoping review.

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients have high readmission rates and require continuous adherence to HF self-care. Lack of knowledge about HF has been identified as a factor that contributes to poor adherence.

Objectives: To clarify and organise existing data about measurement tools used to assess pre-discharge knowledge of hospitalised HF patients, the content and level of pre-discharge knowledge, factors associated with the level of knowledge, and the effect of knowledge levels on patients' outcomes.

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched for articles that described the content and level of knowledge of pre-discharge HF patients.

Results: Thirty-three studies were included in this review. Twenty-two measurement tools were identified used for pre-discharge knowledge assessment. 'Heart failure pathophysiology and treatment' and 'salt and fluid management' were the most common knowledge content measured. The level of knowledge of 'the nature, definition, and causes of symptoms of heart failure' and 'fluid and medication management' tended to be low. High levels of knowledge were found for 'higher educational background', 'previous heart failure hospitalisation', and 'previous heart failure education', while low levels were found for: 'high number of medications' and 'first heart failure hospitalisation'. The level of HF knowledge implies an impact on compliance and self-care.

Conclusion: HF patients have low level of knowledge of the nature and causes of HF and fluid management prior to hospital discharge. Some of the variables that influenced the level of patient knowledge were educational background, number of medications taken, and disease duration.