Background: Patients with acute heart failure (AHF) often experience pulmonary congestion, leading to tachypnea, orthopnea, and hypoxia. Nursing guidelines play a crucial role in relieving pulmonary congestion and improving respiratory function. Thus, this study aimed to improve respiratory status among patients with AHF by implementing a nursing guideline at Heart Hospital.
Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this study. This study (August 2023-September 2024) included 100 patients randomly assigned to intervention (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. The control group received routine care, while the intervention group received nursing guidelines focused on respiratory support, active range of motion, early mobilization, and 6-minute walk test. Patients with comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coma (unconsciousness), pregnancy, or stroke were excluded. The data collection tool was a patient assessment tool (demographic data and arterial blood gases [ABG]), a respiratory assessment tool (chest examination, chest sound assessment, and dyspnea scale), and a patientsꞌ outcomes tool (complication, mortality, and length of stay). Data were analyzed utilizing SPSS software, version 22, with statistical significance set at P<0.05.
Results: Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significant respiratory improvement in arterial O2 saturation (SaO2), accessory muscle use, crepitation, and chest infection (P=0.041, 0.004, 0.008, 0.026), as well as in complications, mortality, and length of stay (P=0.026, 0.023, 0.009).
Conclusion: Nursing guidelines may improve respiratory outcomes in AHF; further multi-setting studies are recommended to confirm findings.