Teach-Back Discharge Education to Improve Self-Care and Reduce 30-Day Readmissions in Heart Failure Patients

Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Readmission, Hospital; Heart Failure Hospitalization; Heart Failure

Treatments: Behavioral: Teach-Back Discharge Education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07280208

2025-398

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to improve how patients with heart failure understand and manage their condition after leaving the hospital. Many heart failure patients are readmitted within 30 days due to confusion about their discharge instructions and difficulty following self-care routines. The study will test whether a structured discharge education session using the "teach-back" method-where patients repeat instructions in their own words-can help improve their knowledge and self-care behaviors. The goal is to reduce hospital readmissions and help patients feel more confident managing their heart failure at home.

Full description

Heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition affecting millions of adults in the United States. Despite advances in treatment, nearly one in four patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, often due to poor understanding of discharge instructions and inadequate self-care. These readmissions contribute to worse health outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a structured discharge education intervention using the teach-back method. The teach-back method is a communication technique in which patients are asked to repeat discharge instructions in their own words. This approach helps confirm understanding, reinforce learning, and promote active engagement in self-care.

The study uses a quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test design to assess changes in patients' knowledge and self-care behaviors before and after the intervention. Participants are adults hospitalized with systolic heart failure (LVEF ≤ 40%) who meet specific clinical criteria. Each participant receives a 30-minute individualized education session at discharge, covering key self-care topics such as medication adherence, symptom monitoring, fluid restriction, and dietary modifications. Printed educational materials from the American Heart Association are also provided.

To measure outcomes, participants complete the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale (EHFScB-9) before and after the intervention. Thirty-day readmission data are collected through a retrospective review of hospital records. The study aims to determine whether teach-back education improves self-care behaviors and reduces 30-day readmission rates.

This project has been reviewed and exempted by the Nova Southeastern University Institutional Review Board under Exempt Category 2. It aligns with national goals to improve patient education, reduce preventable readmissions, and enhance the quality of care for individuals with heart failure.

Enrollment: 57 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 18 years and older
• Diagnosed with systolic heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%
• Classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II, III, or IV
• Categorized as American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Stage C or D
• Currently hospitalized at the project site
• Able to read and understand English at an 8th grade reading level
• Have access to a smartphone or tablet capable of scanning QR codes and connecting to the internet
• Provide voluntary informed consent via the REDCap platform

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitive impairment
• Non-English speaking
• Unwilling to participate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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57 participants in 1 patient group

Teach-Back Education Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive a structured discharge education session using the teach-back method. The session will be delivered in person at hospital discharge and will cover key heart failure self-care behaviors, including medication adherence, symptom monitoring, fluid restriction, and dietary modifications. Participants will be asked to restate instructions in their own words to confirm understanding. Printed educational materials from the American Heart Association will also be provided.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Teach-Back Discharge Education