Assessing the impact of a transitional care program on symptom recognition and self-care in heart failure patients

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex, costly and debilitating chronic health condition. Symptom recognition and self-care are crucial components of heart failure management; however, many HF patients struggle to perform these behaviors and skills at a proficient level. A transitional care program in the Southwest provides services to heart failure patients. A primary program aim is to help facilitate enhanced symptom recognition and self-care among heart failure patients. This project focuses on the assessment of the impact of such a transitional care program on HF patients' ability to perform symptom recognition and self-care.;Methods: Demographic questionnaires were distributed to collect socioeconomic data and clinical characteristics of participants. A pre and post SCHFI survey was completed by participants, and analysis of data performed using a paired t-test.;Results: The 15 participants were primarily Hispanic, elderly, and male. The majority of participants reported an annual income less than ;Conclusion: With the complexities of HF self-management, it is not alarming that these patients have continued to struggle with symptom recognition and self-care. Recommendations are made for future research and interventions.