Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2069
Appears in Collections:Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: The use of innovative methods designed to relieve social isolation in patients with chronic heart failure; volunteer befriending, forums and a newsletter
Author(s): Peardon, Louise
Yellowlees, Diane
Pratt, Rebekah
Reid, Janet
O'Donnell, Maureen
Ness, Andrea
Chalmers, Campbell
Leslie, Stephen
Denvir, Martin A
Contact Email: stephen.leslie@nhs.net
Keywords: Befriending
Chronic heart failure
Voluntary sector
Circulatory system
Cardiovascular system
Issue Date: Sep-2010
Date Deposited: 18-Feb-2010
Citation: Peardon L, Yellowlees D, Pratt R, Reid J, O'Donnell M, Ness A, Chalmers C, Leslie S & Denvir MA (2010) The use of innovative methods designed to relieve social isolation in patients with chronic heart failure; volunteer befriending, forums and a newsletter. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 9 (3), pp. 181-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2009.12.001
Abstract: Introduction: Social isolation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is an adverse prognostic factor. This paper reports the creation of a supportive patient/carer network (Heart Failure Support Service), led by a voluntary sector/National Health Service (NHS) partnership which involved volunteer befriending, regular patient and carer forum and a newsletter. The project: Over 3 years, 37 volunteers were ‘befrienders’ to over 50 individuals with CHF. A thorough training and matching process ensured that the first befriending visit was a positive experience. 100% of patients found the visits from the volunteer worthwhile and said they would recommend the service to other patients. Prior to the first patient–carer forum, 200 questionnaires were sent out with a 56% response rate, 44% of respondents believed that a forum and a newsletter would be valued. Over a period of 3 years, 12 quarterly meetings were held with an average attendance of 30–40 per meeting. The newsletter (current circulation > 800 per quarter) contributed to self-management and encouraged communication between professionals and patients–carers. Conclusions: The Heart Failure Support Service (volunteers, forum and newsletter) created a supportive patient–carer network and represents a successful voluntary sector/NHS partnership.
DOI Link: 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2009.12.001
Rights: The publisher does not allow this work to be made publicly available in this Repository. Please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author; you can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study.
Licence URL(s): http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/under-embargo-all-rights-reserved

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Leslie - The use of innovative methods designed to relieve social etc.pdfFulltext - Published Version485.41 kBAdobe PDFUnder Permanent Embargo    Request a copy

Note: If any of the files in this item are currently embargoed, you can request a copy directly from the author by clicking the padlock icon above. However, this facility is dependent on the depositor still being contactable at their original email address.



This item is protected by original copyright



Items in the Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

The metadata of the records in the Repository are available under the CC0 public domain dedication: No Rights Reserved https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

If you believe that any material held in STORRE infringes copyright, please contact library@stir.ac.uk providing details and we will remove the Work from public display in STORRE and investigate your claim.