Family member accompaniment to routine medical visits is associated with better self-care in heart failure patients

Crystal W. Cené, Laura Beth Haymore, Feng Chang Lin, Jeffrey Laux, Christine Delong Jones, Jia Rong Wu, Darren Dewalt, Mike Pignone, Giselle Corbie-Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between frequency of family member accompaniment to medical visits and heart failure (HF) self-care maintenance and management and to determine whether associations are mediated through satisfaction with provider communication. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 150 HF patients seen in outpatient clinics. HF self-care maintenance and management were assessed using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. Satisfaction with provider communication was assessed using a single question originally included in the American Board of Internal Medicine Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Frequency of family member accompaniment to visits was assessed using a single-item question. We performed regression analyses to examine associations between frequency of accompaniment and outcomes. Mediation analysis was conducted using MacKinnon's criteria. Results: Overall, 61% reported accompaniment by family members to some/most/every visit. Accompaniment to some/most/every visit was associated with higher self-care maintenance (β=6.4, SE 2.5; p=0.01) and management (β=12.7, SE 4.9; p=0.01) scores. Satisfaction with provider communication may mediate the association between greater frequency of accompaniment to visits and self-care maintenance (1.092; p=0.06) and self-care management (1.428; p=0.13). Discussion: Accompaniment to medical visits is associated with better HF self-care maintenance and management, and this effect may be mediated through satisfaction with provider communication.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)21-32
Number of pages12
JournalChronic Illness
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 27 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Center for Research Resources [grant number KL2RR025746 (to CC) and UL1RR025747 (to GC-S)]; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [grant number K23HL107614 (to CC)]; a salary support provided by Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research [grant number K24 HL105493 (to GC-S)]; the National Cancer Institute [grant number 5K05CA129166 (to MP)]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, through [grant award number 1UL1TR001111]; and a NIH/HRSA training grant as a NRSA Primary Care Research Fellow [grant number T32HP14001 (to CJ)].

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Center for Research Resources [grant number KL2RR025746 (to CC) and UL1RR025747 (to GC-S)]; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [grant number K23HL107614 (to CC)]; a salary support provided by Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research [grant number K24 HL105493 (to GC-S)]; the National Cancer Institute [grant number 5K05CA129166 (to MP)]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, through [grant award number 1UL1TR001111]; and a NIH/HRSA training grant as a NRSA Primary Care Research Fellow [grant number T32HP14001 (to CJ)].

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)1UL1TR001111
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)K23HL107614, K24 HL105493
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer Institute5K05CA129166
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer Institute
National Center for Research ResourcesUL1RR025747, KL2RR025746
National Center for Research Resources
Health Resources and Services Administration
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Israel National Road Safety AuthorityT32HP14001
Israel National Road Safety Authority

    Keywords

    • Family
    • heart failure
    • patient-provider communication
    • self-care
    • social support

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Health Policy

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