Survey of Elderly Heart Failure Patients and Physical Therapists on Discharge Support Needs: Analysis by Q-sort Method

Abstract

[Purpose] To survey the characteristics and differences of discharge support that heart failure patients and physical therapists consider necessary. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 16 patients with heart failure who were 65 years of age or older and 7 physical therapists (PT). The Q-sort method was used to survey the values relating to discharge support needed by heart failure patients. [Results] The discharge support item considered highly necessary by both groups was “response at times of recurrence.” Differences between the two groups were found in “purpose of exercise” and “explanation of exercise risk”, with the patient group expressing lower need than the PT group. [Conclusion] Both groups were conscious of the need for effective management of salt and water intake, and body weight for prevention of recurrence. The need for “exercise” was lower in the patient group than in the PT group. This suggests that there is a problem with guidance related to exercise.