‘heartfailurematters.org’, an educational website for patients and carers from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology: objectives, use and future directions (original) (raw)
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Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Specialist Heart Failure Curriculum
European Journal of Heart Failure, 2014
It is well established that organized care of heart failure patients, including specialist management by cardiologists, improves patient outcomes. In response to this, other national training bodies (the UK and the USA) have developed heart failure subspecialty curricula within their Cardiology Training Curricula. In addition, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) subspecialty curricula exist for Interventional Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Management. The purpose of this heart failure curriculum is to provide a framework which can be used as a blueprint for training across Europe. This blueprint mirrors other ESC curricula. Each section has three components: the knowledge required, the skills which are necessary, and the professionalism (attitudes and behaviours) which should be attained. The programme is designed to last 2 years. The first year is devoted to the specialist heart failure module. The second year allows completion of the optional modules of advanced imaging, device therapy for implanters, cardiac transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. The second year can also be devoted to continuation of specialist heart failure training and/or research for those not wishing to continue with the advanced modules.
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 2000
In the last decennia heart failure has become one of the most important diseases worldwide in terms of prevalence, morbidity, life expectancy, and in health care management and costs. Despite significant improvements in prevention and treatment, heart failure remains a frequently occurring disorder with increasing incidence and a high hospitalisation and death rate. As major health care problem it deserves full attention of health care authorities. Unfortunately, the seriousness of heart failure and the therapeutic possibilities are often not recognised by those directly involved, i.e. the doctor, the patient or his relatives, let alone that they are known to the general public and health care authorities.
EUR Observational Research Programme: The Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC-HF Pilot)
European Journal of Heart Failure, 2010
The primary objective of the new ESC-HF Pilot Survey was to describe the clinical epidemiology of outpatients and inpatients with heart failure (HF) and the diagnostic/therapeutic processes applied across 12 participating European countries. This pilot study was specifically aimed at validating the structure, performance, and quality of the data set, for continuing the survey into a permanent registry.
Archives of Medical Science, 2014
Introduction: General public views about heart failure (HF) alone and in comparison with other chronic conditions are largely unknown; thus we conducted this survey to evaluate general public awareness about HF and HF disease burden relative to common chronic disease. Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional survey during European Heart Failure Awareness Day 2011. People visiting the stands and other activities in 12 Slovenian cities were invited to complete a 14-item questionnaire. Results: The analysis included 850 subjects (age 56 ±15 years, 44% men, 55% completed secondary education or higher). Overall, 83% reported to have heard about HF, 58% knew someone with HF, and 35% believed that HF is a normal consequence of ageing. When compared to other chronic diseases, HF was perceived as less important than cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke and diabetes with only 6%, 12%, 7%, and 5% of subjects ranking HF as number 1 in terms of prevalence, cost, quality of life, and survival. A typical patient with HF symptoms was recognized by 30%, which was comparable to the description of myocardial ischemia (33%) and stroke (39%). Primary care physicians (53%) or specialists (52%) would be primary sources of information about HF. If experiencing HF, 83% would prefer their care to be focused on quality of life rather than on survival (14%). Conclusions: Many participants reported to have heard about heart failure but the knowledge was poor and with several misbeliefs. Heart failure was
Heart Failure Reviews, 2006
With the current epidemic of heart failure (HF), the practicing clinical cardiologist is faced with an overwhelming amount of new information regarding drugs, technologies and emerging concepts aimed at improving the rather dismal outlook traditionally associated with HF patients. The challenge regarding HF patients highlights a vital requirement: that progress achieved by basic researchers must be early and effectively implemented by clinicians in order to translate into results which will be of practical significance for the patient population. In this context, two clinically oriented cardiologists have undertaken to moderate a special issue of Heart Failure Reviews focused on the interaction between basic scientists, clinical researchers, HF experts and general cardiologists. The issue begins with a discussion of the challenge of diagnosis of heart failure in primary care and this is addressed by Candida Fonseca. The author very pertinently points out the "the management of the syndrome in primary care has been hampered by perceived difficulties in diagnosis and in starting and monitoring effective treatment," alluding to the