OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate if family members of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) increased knowledge about CHF through a group-based multi-professional educational programme and whether there was an effect on patients' health care utilization. METHODS: Family members (n = 128) were randomly assigned to intervention-group (IG) who received CHF education programme or control-group (CG) who received information according to hospital routines. Programme effects were evaluated with CHF knowledge questionnaire, patient readmissions and number of days hospitalised during 18 months. RESULTS: Knowledge about CHF increased in both groups, significantly higher in IG at second assessment (IG 16 +/- 1.9 versus CG 14.9 +/- 2.1, p = 0.006), and knowledge maintained at third assessment. In IG 17 patients were re-admitted at least once and 28 patients in CG due to CHF (p = 0.085). There were no differences in frequency of readmissions or number of days hospitalised. CONCLUSION: A group-based multi-professional education programme increased family members' knowledge about CHF. Despite this, effect on patient's health care utilization could not be seen during follow-up period. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: We suggest that CHF education programmes for family members should be provided at clinics, with information preferably repeated 2 to 3 times during a period of six months to maintain knowledge level.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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