The Effectiveness of Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Intervention on Quality of Life in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure via Cognitive-Behavioral Procedure

Introduction: Reduced quality of life in cardiac patients and their frequent hospitalizations in the coronary care units is regarded as a main challenge for such patients. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle promotion intervention on quality of life in patients with congestive heart failure via cognitive-behavioral procedure. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, assessment in pretest, posttest, and follow-up along with the control group were applied. Twenty-six patients with congestive heart failure were selected via convenience sampling among patients attended to Shahid Rajaee Heart hospital in Tehran. Then, they were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=11; under administration of healthy lifestyle promotion intervention via cognitive-behavioral procedure during eight group sessions once a week) and control group (n=15). Quality of life was measured for all the participants in three phases of pre-test, post-test and follow-up by Questionnaire of Quality of Life in Patients with Heart Failure (IHF-QoL) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Results: According to the results of variance analysis with repeated measures, this intervention was proved to have short-time effects on quality of life and its psychological components (P<0.001). Following the therapy termination, patients were returned to baseline, though the effect of intervention on depression was continued within 2 month follow-up (P<0.001). Conclusion: In regard with the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle promotion intervention via cognitive-behavioral procedure in improving quality of life and its psychological aspects, as well as high costs of hospital and prolonged treatment for these patients, applying this intervention in a permanent manner seem to be beneficial.