Authors: (including presenting author): :
Poon A (1) , Wong KC (1), Leung YS (1), Chan WC (1), Ip WM (1), Lau M (1)
Affiliation: :
Occupational Therapy Department at Shatin Hospital (1)
Keyword 2: :
Congestive Heart Failure
Introduction: :
Developing smart hospitals with advanced technology is set to be key focus for occupational therapy in the coming five years. Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome and a leading cause of hospitalizations. A holistic approach that emphasizes education, self-management is essential in the rehabilitation and promotion of health for patients living with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Tele-health, especially for heart failure management, is an innovative approach to provide patients with tailored information and support. Occupational therapists provide comprehensive smart interventions aimed at enhancing functional capacity, health literacy, quality of life, and psychological well-being.
Objectives: :
The Heart Failure Program (HFP), developed in 2023, aims to empower CHF patients for both in-patients and day patients with tele-health in order to engage in desired daily activities and fulfill life roles within the constraints imposed by their symptoms. This program facilitates better management of CHF and enhances overall well-being.
Methodology: :
To achieve these objectives, the structured program, goal setting, tele educational information for CHF patients included 2 parts: Standardized tele-care approach for CHF patients and their care givers in March 2023 - Conducted needs assessment to understand current practice and service gap related to CHF patients - Created new 13 interactive training videos covering various domains, including daily practical tips for daily activities, healthy behaviors, edema management, dyspnea management, fatigue management and stress management, tailored to individual needs, reinforced healthy behaviors, self-management and improving adherence. - Created standardized clinical guideline that outline the step-by-step process for assessing and managing CHF according to stratified signs and symptoms, tele education materials and documentation. Clinical application and outcome evaluation from April 2023 to May 2025 -Applied the structured standardized tele care for CHF patients according to stratified signs and symptoms. Pre and post-tests evaluated functional outcomes, psychological health, health literacy, and quality of life using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ), Brief Fatigue Index (BFI), Monitored Task Evaluation (MTE), Lawton IADL, and WHO-5 Well-Being Index.
Result & Outcome: :
From April 2023 to May 2025, 21 in-patients successfully completed the HFP, with a mean age of 83.4 years and 95% being female. The results indicated statistically significant improvements in MTE (p< 0.00), MBI (p< 0.00), WHO-5 (p< 0.00), SOBQ (p< 0.00), BFI (p< 0.00), and health literacy (p=0.02). Additionally, 13 patients participated successfully in the Geriatric Day Hospital and received follow-up from occupational therapists, showing significant improvements in MBI (p< 0.00), WHO-5 (p< 0.00), and SOBQ (p< 0.02). Conclusion: By integrating tailored tele-health can significantly enhance the management of heart failure and improve functional outcomes and improving health-related quality of life for CHF patients. By implementing best practices in health and wellness promotion, occupational therapists play a crucial role in facilitating self-management and elevating the quality of life for individuals living with CHF. Ongoing data collection is necessary to recruit larger sample sizes and ensure continuous service improvement.
