Study Design
The study was conducted within the context of the randomized controlled
trial, Rural Education to Improve Outcomes in Heart Failure
(REMOTE-HF).16 In brief, we tested an education and counseling
intervention on detection and management of escalating symptoms
among rural patients with HF to improve self-care abilities and decrease
preventable readmissions. In REMOTE-HF, patients were
followed for 2 years. At baseline, patients’ demographic and clinical
data (including age, NYHA, BNP, medication regimen, and health
literacy) were collected by patient interview or medical record review.
Outcome data were assessed monthly by telephone interviews,
examination of the hospital administrative database, and review of the
hospital discharge summary