The Effect of Mobile Health Applications on the Knowledge of Patients of Heart Failure

Background: A lack of knowledge among patients of heart failure represents a significant problem that could lead to an increase in adverse outcomes, such as lengthening the hospitalization period and increasing the readmission rate. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effect of mobile health education applications on the knowledge of patients of heart failure and identify the associated factors that would contribute to patients’ knowledge of heart failure. Methods: A quasi-experimental design (two groups with pretest-posttest design) was used. A non-probability convenient sample of 160 patients was recruited. The participants were assigned randomly to an experimental group and a control group. The Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale was used to assess the patients’ level of knowledge. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test and multiple-regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: The total number of participants was 126. The overall Jordanian patients’ level of knowledge regarding the non-pharmacological management of heart failure was moderate (M = 9.4, SD = 2.07). Significant differences between study groups were found in terms of levels of knowledge. The intervention group (M = 12.26, SD = 2.36) had significantly higher mean scores of knowledge level of heart failure compared to the control group (M = 9.76, SD = 2.01); t = 6.361, p = 0.000). The result of the regression analysis was significant (adjusted R2 = 0.222, F (16,109)= 3.226, P=0.000). Conclusion: Mobile health education could be a promising solution for managing different chronic diseases, particularly HF. Implications for Nursing: Mobile health could be a more costeffective approach to patient education than other traditional approaches recently applied in clinical practice. Keywords: Heart failure, Patient education, Knowledge, Telehealth, Mobile health applications.