Supporting Dyads Affected by Heart Failure
Heart Failure
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Heart Failure
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- The inclusion criteria were to be a dyad consisting of a patient diagnosed with heart failure based on the European Society of Cardiology guidelines,
- New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV,
- with a partner living in the same household as the patient,
- recently discharged from hospital (i.e. 2-3 weeks) following a heart failure acute exacerbation.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Exclusion criteria for the dyads were dementia, or other severe psychiatric illnesses,
- drug abuse,
- difficulties in understanding or reading the Swedish language,
- undergoing cardiac surgery including cardiac transplant or
- participating in other studies.
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
No Intervention
Experimental
control
Psycho edcuactional support
The dyads in the control group received care as usual including traditional care in hospital and outpatient education and support. The care is mainly focused on the patient's needs. The partner is not systematically involved in the follow-up focusing on education and psychosocial support.
The intervention psychoeducational support to the patient-partner dyads was delivered in 3 sessions through nurse-led face-to-face counseling, a computer-based CD-ROM program and other written teaching materials. All sessions lasted at least 60 minutes and were conducted in the dyads' homes or in the heart failure clinic. The first session 2 weeks after discharge and the two remaining sessions 6- and 12-weeks following discharge. Each session included education on heart failure and development of problem- solving skills to assist the dyads in recognizing and modifying factors that contribute to psychological and emotional distress. The intervention focused on changing thoughts and behaviors and implementing strategies for self-care.