Quality of life (QOL) is a reflection of a person's mental and physical well-being in their everyday life. Quality of life is an “individual perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value system in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”. The study was aimed to assess and quantify the impact of patient counseling on Quality of life, medication knowledge and compliance of heart failure patients. QOL was assessed using Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLWHQ). 50 patients seen for the first time at the unit were evaluated. We analyzed the relationship between the questionnaire score and physiological variables such as age, gender, duration of disease, number of drugs and ejection fraction. Medication knowledge was assessed by giving score during interaction with patient and compliance was assessed by pill count. Finally, the patients were counseled and followed. A significant difference in QOL score (P< 0.001) and medication knowledge score (P < 0.001) was obtained compared to baseline. Most patients (78%) are complied with prescribed regimen. To sum up, patient counseling aided better understanding of their illness and role medications in its treatment and contributed to the development of a patient-led health-related Quality of life.
Key words: Quality of life, patient counseling, Heart failure, medication knowledge, compliance.