The Effect of Partnership Care Model on Depression and Anxiety in the Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in heart failure patients and has been associated with adverse prognosis, reduced functional ability and greater use of health care resources. Aim: To determine the effect of using partnership care model on anxiety and depression in heart failure patients. Method: This clinical trial was conducted as quasi-experimental design on 90 patients with heart failure in two educational hospitals in Kerman/Iran in 2010 – 2011. The patients were divided equally and randomly allocated to experimental and control groups. The partnership care model which consisted of 4 main steps of orientation, sensitization, performing and evaluation was performed for experimental group. The level of anxiety and depression of both groups were measured using Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (Version 18) using paired t test, one way ANONA, and Chi-square test. Results: The mean score of anxiety in control and experimental groups was 32.73±10.23 and 33.45±11.83 before the intervention, respectively.  The scores after the intervention were 35.32±10.10 (in control group) and 13.96±5.05 (in experimental group) (P=0.000). The mean score of depression before running the intervention was 24.73±8.21 in the control group and 26.97±10.40 in the experimental group, which reduced after the intervention to 29.14±8.62 in control group and 13.26±4.25 in experimental group (P=0.000). Conclusion: Applying partnership care model can reduce level of anxiety and depression in heart failure patients. Therefore, it is recommended to use this model to control and reduce anxiety and depression in heart failure patients.