Does planned visual training affect the attitudes, beliefs and symptoms of individuals with heart failure towards their disease?

Aim: This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of planned visual training based on the Health Belief Model [HBM] among patients' symptoms, attitudes and beliefs about heart failure. Materials and Methods: The study was randomized controlled experimental type and was conducted with 110 heart failure individuals (55 intervention group; 55 control group) treated in the cardiology outpatient clinic of a university hospital in the western part of Turkey. The data were collected with "Patient Information Form", "Health Belief Model Scale in Heart Failure [HBMS-HF]" and "Heart Failure Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale [MSAS-HF]". Three interviews were conducted first follow up, three months later and six months later in the intervention group. In the control group, two interviews were conducted first follow up and six months later. Results: After the planned visual training program based on the HBM, a statistically significant difference was found between the intervention group and the control group in terms of perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, self-efficacy and symptom scores. In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant difference among the follow-ups in terms of perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefit, perceived barrier, self-efficacy and symptom scores of the patients. Six months after the first interview, it was determined that the the perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, self-efficacy scores of the intervention group increased significantly compared to the control group; it was determined that the symptom scores were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Conclusions: The result of this study demonstrated that planned visual training based on the HBM had a positive effect on the patients' symptoms, attitudes and beliefs about heart failure. Key Words: Heart failure, visual training, health belief model, symptom, nurse.