Characteristics of participants and audio recorded consultations
| Patients: Persons (+65 years) diagnosed with heart failure | n=25 |
| Female, n (%) | 8 (32%) |
| Age, median (min–max) | 76 (67–90) |
| NYHA classification III, IV*, n (%) | 15 (60%), 7 (28%) |
| Ejection fraction†, EF% below 35% | 11 (44%) |
| Cognitive function‡, median score (min–max) | 23 (16–30) |
| Diagnosed with HF more than 3 months ago†, n (%) | 15 (60%) |
| Diagnoses according to discharge letter, median (min–max) | 3 (1–6) |
| Number of medications at hospital admission†§, median (min–max) | 6 (0–14) |
| Number of medications at hospital discharge†§, median (min–max) | 8 (4–16) |
| Patients with the following heart medications prescribed in their regimen†§, n (%) | Hospital admission/Hospital discharge |
| ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor | 19 (76%)/24 (96%) |
| Antiarrhythmic medication | 9 (36%)/14 (56%) |
| Anticoagulant or antiplatelet | 20 (80%)/24 (96%) |
| Beta-blocker | 15 (60%)/22 (88%) |
| Diuretic for regular or intermittent use | 13 (52%)/16 (64%) |
| Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist | 5 (20%)/15 (60%) |
| Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor | 7 (28%)/19 (76%) |
| HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) | 20 (80%)/17 (68%) |
| Hospital doctors | n=23 |
| Female, n (%) | 17 (74%) |
| Age, median (min-max) | 31 (24–50) |
| Professional role as junior doctor, n (%) | 22 (96%) |
| Years of work experience, median (min–max) | 2.8 (0–17) |
| General practitioners (GPs) | n=25 |
| Female, n (%) | 8 (32%) |
| Age, median (min-max) | 50 (35–71) |
| Professional role as junior doctor, n (%) | 5 (20%) |
| Years of work experience, median (min–max) | 16 (1–44) |
| Audio recorded consultations | n=74 |
| First heart ward visit in hospital (n=24), duration mean (min–max) | 14.7 min (6–23) |
| Discharge visit from hospital (n=25), duration mean (min–max) | 12.2 min (5–25) |
| First follow-up visit with GP (n=25), duration mean (min–max) | 22.8 min (10–44) |
| Days from hospital admission to hospital discharge visit, median (min–max) | 6 (1–20) |
| Days between hospital discharge and follow-up visit with GP, median (min–max) | 10 (2–43) |
*NYHA Functional Class3, according to patients’ medical records. Class III (HF symptoms with excertion), Class IV (HF symptoms at rest).
†According to patients’ medical records.
‡Cognitive function measured with MoCA assessment version 8.157, median score (range). Cognitive impairment scale: Moderate (10–17); Mild (18–25); Normal (26+).
§Prescribed for regular use.
MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; NYHA, New York Heart Association.