Telephone monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure. Survey of nursing staff in Russian clinics

Various studies demonstrate high efficiency of telephone monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) regarding all-cause mortality and hospitalization due to CHF. To date, there is no idea about telephone monitoring (TM) of patients with CHF in Russian regions. Objective. To assess workload of medical personnel, methodology of telephone consultations (TC), tactical decision-making, patient adherence to medical recommendations and CHF schools in CHF/high-risk CVD offices. Material and methods. Nurses (n=193) from 116 CHF/high cardiovascular risk (HCR) offices of various medical organizations in Russian regions filled out a questionnaire consisting of 33 questions. Results. About 7 and 120 TCs are conducted in each office per day and month, respectively. Duration of TC is usually 7 minutes. Original algorithm of TC with adoption of tactical decisions developed at the Chazov National Medical Research Center of Cardiology is used in 70% of CHF/high CVD offices. About 4% of all calls during TC end with a call for an ambulance team; 92% of respondents clarify with patients the medications taken and their doses. About 95% of respondents compare this list with the doctor’s prescriptions at the last visit and inform the doctor (99%) about survey results. About 76% of respondents were trained in CHF, but feel the need for additional training, including CHF schools. The last ones are conducted by mid-level medical personnel only in 40% of CHF/high CVD offices. Conclusion. In some Russian regions, there is a practice of joint management of patients with CHF (including TC) by doctors and nursing staff. Original algorithm of TC with adoption of tactical decisions developed at the Chazov National Medical Research Center of Cardiology is used in most hospitals and provides nursing staff with opportunity to assess clinical status of patients and adherence to therapy, as well as to make a decision including calling an ambulance team. In most cases, nurses were trained in CHF, but feel the need for additional training, including CHF schools.