Dialogues between nurses, patients with heart failure and their partners during a dyadic psychoeducational intervention: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES: To describe nurses’ documentation of the content in a psychoeducational intervention inspired by Stuifbergen’s model addressing cognitive, supportive and behavioural needs of patient–partner dyads affected by heart failure. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative design was used analysing nurses’ documentation in a dialogue guide based on a health promotion model. SETTINGS: The dialogue guide was used during three nurse-led sessions at two heart failure clinics in Sweden with patients affected with heart failure and their partners during the years 2005–2008. PARTICIPANTS: The dialogue guides from 71 patient–partner dyads were analysed using direct deductive content analyses. Patients’ mean age was 69 years and 31% were female, partners’ mean age was 67 years and 69% were female. RESULTS: The findings supported the conceptual health promotion model and identified barriers, recourses and self-efficacy described by the dyads within each category. CONCLUSION: The dyads described that during the sessions, they had gained enhanced knowledge and greater confidence to handle their life situation and expressed that they needed psychoeducational support during the whole illness trajectory. The results may guide and help to improve content and quality when caring for patients affected with heart failure and their partners and also when designing new interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02398799; Post-results.