EFFECTIVENESS OF NURSE-LED TELEPHONE INTERVENTIONS ON QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW & META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: Patients with cardiovascular disease experience distress during the early post-discharge recovery phase. Nurse-led Telephone Interventions offer a relatively inexpensive method of providing care and support, however its efficacy in improving HRQoL for patients living with or discharged with CVD is yet to be established. Aims: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis analyzing the effectiveness of nurse-led telephone interventions for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Design and Methods: A systematic search was performed across six databases: PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, ProQuest, PsycINFO and CINAHL from inception up till January 3rd, 2019. Only RCTs were included for this review. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan software, and a random effects model was utilized. The overall effect was assessed using Standardised Mean Difference (SMD). Results: A total of 3012 records were retrieved through the systematic search process. 10 RCTs were included in this review. Results of meta-analysis show nurse-led telephone interventions to be statistically significant in improving physical-related QoL, though to a small effect. Conclusion: Nurse-led telephone interventions do appear to improve physicalrelated QoL and low-density lipoprotein concentrations in the short-run. Implications: Continued use of nurse-led telephone intervention is encouraged in Evidence-Based Practice Healthcare.