24-Hours Emergency Line

+237 620 40 77 86 | +1 202 894 5911

Heart Failure

Heart Failure

Heart failure is a major life threatening disease and a growing health problem around the world. Although published literature on heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa is rare, there is evidence that the rate of hospital admissions for heart failure is comparable with rates to the rest of the world (1). Heart failure poses great economic and social stress and has been described as a global pandemic affecting about 26million adults in both the developed and developing countries (2). I had a notion that CHF occurs only in men but statistics in the RHB shows no gender link to CHF. The specific objectives were to assess the knowledge of nurses on CHF, its management and prevention of risk factors. To evaluate the attitudes of nurses in the management of CHF. To find out their practices in the management of CHF. To identify the difficulties nurses, have in the management of CHF. The significance of this study will be to improve on the nurse’s awareness, knowledge on CHF, its management and prevention of possible poor prognosis. The study was carried out at the RHB using a descriptive cross sectional design on a target population of 50 nurses chosen using the convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire made up of open and closed ended questions was used to collect data at the RHB. The data was coded and analyzed manually using a scientific calculator, the results were presented on frequency distribution tables, pie and bar charts using the computer’s Microsoft excel program 2010 version. An Authorization was obtained from the General Supervisor of the Regional Hospital and verbal consent was sought from the participants and they were assured of confidentiality. The following results were obtained, (100%) knew the definition of CHF, (86%) knew risk factors of CHF, 84% knew they had to monitor pulse rate before administering drugs like digitalis. It is evident from findings of this study that, irrespective of the level of education, nurses still have knowledge deficit on management of CHF regarding fluid intake and common symptoms. Overall, nurses have good practices managing patients with CHF. So nurse’s education should be a corner stone in view of the knowledge on CHF and follow up care to upgrade its management, the minister should modify, improve medical centers for CHF patients, thus, leading to better management, the school should constantly be upgraded with recent books and journals concerning CHF.

Leave A Comment