A total of 30 participants were interviewed in this study, with a mean age of 42.7 ± 12.1 years. Their professional titles were distributed as follows: 3 junior, 21 intermediate, and 6 seniors. The mean duration of their professional experience was 9.8 ± 6.2 years. Most participants resided in urban areas (Table 2). Figure 2 illustrates the primary themes identified across different levels of the SEM, highlighting the factors that facilitate or impede the management of CHF as revealed through the interviews.
Table 2
Summary of participant demographics.
Characteristic Number (%) | Variable | Participants, n = 30 |
title | | |
| primary | 3 |
| intermediate | 21 |
| senior | 6 |
Years of experience | | |
| 5 ~ 10 | 6 |
| 11 ~ 20 | 15 |
| 21 ~ 30 | 8 |
| Above 31 | 1 |
Highest academic education | | |
| junior college | 10 |
| undergraduate | 18 |
| master | 2 |
Age range | | |
| 20 ~ 30 | 5 |
| 31 ~ 40 | 11 |
| 41 ~ 50 | 13 |
| Above 51 | 1 |
region | | |
| Jiaxing | 10 |
| Hangzhou | 10 |
| Lishui | 10 |
Designation | | |
| Community nurse | 16 |
| Community doctor | 14 |
Gender | | |
| Female | 26 |
| Male | 4 |
positions | manager | 6 |
| staff | 24 |
Individual
Facilitators
At the individual level, this study identified two key themes related to the enhancement of chronic disease management in CHF. These themes include the urgent need for better accessibility to care for CHF patients and the perceived benefits of community-based management for chronic diseases in older individuals, as recognized by healthcare professionals. Nearly all healthcare providers expressed their active involvement in the initiative, citing regular clinical interactions with CHF patients. They strongly supported the project, emphasizing its importance in contributing to public health and addressing the high prevalence of CHF in the country.
Barriers
1) Medical staff lack knowledge and experience in CHF management
In the management of CHF, medical staff commonly face issues related to insufficient knowledge and experience. Many healthcare professionals lack systematic training and practical experience in the diagnosis and management of CHF. For example, a community nurse stated, "I currently have limited understanding of chronic heart failure and lack specific training on this condition." Additionally, some doctors and nurses report difficulties in implementing chronic disease management procedures, particularly in developing long-term treatment plans and monitoring disease progression. An internal medicine doctor noted, "Managing chronic heart failure requires ongoing tracking and adjustments, but we lack relevant training and support, leading to suboptimal management outcomes."
2) Weak health awareness of patients
CHF patient health literacy poses a significant challenge. One community physician expressed dissatisfaction with patient adherence: "Many patients reduce their medication dosage or stop taking it altogether due to side effects." Another physician highlighted difficulties in persuading patients to reduce their salt intake, noting that deeply ingrained dietary habits make it challenging for patients to make necessary dietary changes even when aware of the health risks. Additionally, some patients hold traditional beliefs that illnesses should be treated with rest rather than physical activity. As one medical professional put it, "Certain individuals choose to endure illness rather than seek medical help, which always delays their treatment."
3) Patient access is limited during the post-COVID-19 era
Additionally, the availability of healthcare facilities during epidemics and other contagious diseases is limited. A medical professional mentioned, "During the ongoing phase of the epidemic and in the post-COVID-19 era, hospitals saw reduced patient attendance as people avoided exposure to infection, while many medical staff were engaged in outbreak response efforts."
Interpersonal
Facilitators
In the community, primary sources of support for patients include robust social media platforms and peer support groups. According to a county health director, an active social media presence allows patients to access a wealth of information about their condition and connect with others who have similar experiences. The director also highlights the significant role of support groups, noting that the success stories shared within these groups can greatly enhance patients' well-being and overall experience.
Barriers
1) Insufficient support from the patients’ family:
Several key interpersonal barriers hinder the effective management of CHF in community settings. First, insufficient familial support is a major challenge. One community physician emphasized, "Family support and supervision are vital for managing chronic diseases. Family members spend the most time with the patient, have frequent contact, and play a crucial role in monitoring the patient. However, currently, family members are not providing the necessary support."
2)Poor patient adherence and lack of trust in community hospitals and staff
Another significant barrier is the lack of comprehensive patient education initiatives. A nurse pointed out, "We offer limited health education related to chronic heart failure, such as lectures and other activities. These initiatives are infrequent and not well-integrated into our care protocols." Moreover, patients' distrust of community healthcare services and poor compliance with treatment are substantial obstacles. As noted by a community doctor, "Many heart failure patients prefer to go directly to tertiary hospitals rather than utilize community healthcare services. They perceive community doctors as less skilled compared to specialists at tertiary hospitals. This distrust leads to lower patient attendance and poor adherence to follow-up appointments."
Organizational
Facilitators
The study identified that a strong awareness of chronic disease management and extensive experience in managing chronic conditions within the community are significant facilitators. One community manager noted, "Our community is partnering with a major hospital to pilot chronic disease management for chronic heart failure, and we are excited to take on this initiative." The community has a long history of managing conditions such as hypertension and diabetes effectively. A community doctor said: "I have been engaged in community chronic disease management for more than 10 years and have been successful in managing hypertension and diabetes. I am also confident in managing chronic heart failure."
Barriers
1) Inadequate medical knowledge and training programs for medical staff
A significant obstacle to successful CHF treatment is the lack of comprehensive medical education and training programs for healthcare providers. Numerous medical personnel have not undergone adequate training in managing CHF. A community nurse noted, "I have limited knowledge and training regarding chronic heart failure." Lack of training prevents physicians from effectively diagnosing, treating, and managing CHF. A doctor said: "Chronic heart failure management and continuous learning are necessary, but we have relatively few training programs to keep up with new guidelines."
2) shortage of medical staff and Weak teamwork
Challenges in CHF management are shortages of medical staff and weak teamwork. Ineffective coordination and collaboration within the healthcare team further complicate matters. "There is a lack of cooperation among healthcare team members, resulting in poor scheduling and work coordination." said a nurse from a community hospital. Additionally, Leadership and governance are problematic. There is often a perception that performance evaluations are unfair or unreasonable." The lack of effective teamwork and leadership is detrimental to patient care.
3) Few health promotion channels
There are several barriers to effective CHF management, including a lack of diverse health promotion channels. Inadequate avenues for disseminating health information and promoting healthy behaviors can lead to a lack of patient engagement and education. A community health worker stated, "There are very few resources available for promoting health and educating patients about chronic heart failure. Most of our efforts are limited to lectures or pamphlets, which are not sufficient to engage all patients." Another nurse echoed this concern, saying, "There is a need for more consistent and widespread efforts in order to truly make an impact on patients, as without regular and varied health promotion activities, many of them remain unaware of critical aspects of managing their condition."
Community
Facilitators
CHF management is significantly enhanced by the substantial number of community health volunteers. A community manager stated, "Many volunteers visit patients' homes and conduct disease prevention and control activities, such as cardiovascular health education. In addition to volunteering for various initiatives, our community volunteers provide essential knowledge about disease management to residents."
Barriers
1) Lack of chronic disease management monitoring systems
In the community, chronic diseases are difficult to manage due to a lack of information technology. A senior community nurse said: "In our clinics, the technology we have does not allow us to monitor patient conditions dynamically or provide timely feedback. We don’t have advanced features like one-touch alarms or peer-to-peer online communication that big cities offer." And lack of early screening and follow-up for CHF in the community. Medical staff from community hospitals reported, "The community does not currently screen for chronic heart failure. As a result, many patients do not know they have chronic heart failure until they experience symptoms. In addition, we do not conduct follow-ups after diagnosis and treatment."
2) Inadequate medical equipment
A significant barrier at the organizational level is the lack of diagnostic and treatment equipment for CHF. A community nurse noted, "We do not have echocardiograms available in community hospitals for chronic heart failure patients, and essential tests like the six-minute walk test are not feasible due to risks and other constraints. Furthermore, the community lacks specialized facilities and equipment for cardiac rehabilitation, and health promotion efforts are insufficient. A community doctor noted, "We do not have dedicated exercise areas or professional cardiac rehabilitation equipment for heart failure patients. Our current exercise equipment is for the general public, and our health promotion mainly relies on volunteers providing door-to-door education. However, our outreach is limited, and our facilities are not fully equipped for comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation."
3) Lack of information technology (IT) auxiliary management platforms
The coverage of health records is inadequate, leaving us unsure of the exact number of CHF patients in the community and making patient care processes unclear. "Problems with the referral system also hinder effective CHF management, " a nurse from a tertiary hospital explained, " The referral system from tertiary hospitals to community hospitals is inadequate, with time constraints affecting medical personnel. On the other hand, community hospitals have a well-established referral system to tertiary hospitals." Additionally, the poor monitoring system for chronic disease management hinders progress. A nurse pointed out, "Without a robust monitoring system, it's hard to continue without proper supervision and evaluation."
Public policy
Facilitators
Policy makers are more willing, with multiple interviewees saying they "advocate for the government to manage chronic heart failure as a chronic disease. Although this project will take some time, our community hopes it will succeed."
Barriers
1) Lack of policy support and support funding subsidies
China faces several policy-related obstacles. This includes a lack of policy support for older adults with CHF and insufficient financial assistance. A community hospital administrator said: "China does not provide policy support and sufficient subsidies for the management of chronic heart failure, such as integrating chronic heart failure into community chronic disease management."
2) Lack of CHF guidelines adapted to the local context
The lack of heart failure guidelines adapted to China is a major challenge for effective management of CHF. “On a day-to-day basis, we don’t follow the guidelines exactly because they don’t match the situation in our community,” one doctor said. Another healthcare provider added: “It’s difficult to have guidelines that reflect local realities. Provide standardized care. As a result, treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction may vary. "In the absence of locally adapted guidelines, it is difficult to consistently implement best practices, ultimately affecting the quality of CHF management.
3) Lack of funding subsidies and low medical insurance reimbursement rate
Low medical insurance reimbursement rates also pose a significant barrier. A doctor stated, "There is a limitation to the coverage of medical insurance, particularly in remote areas with lower reimbursement rates. Rural patients also have difficulty accessing medical resources, and drug treatment reimbursement is minimal."