Improving heart failure self-management support by actively engaging out-of-home caregivers: results of a feasibility study

Congest Heart Fail. 2008 Jan-Feb;14(1):12-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7133.2008.07474.x.

Abstract

The benefits of heart failure (HF) care management have been demonstrated, yet health systems are often unable to meet patients' needs for support between outpatient visits. Informal care provided by family or friends is a low-cost, and potentially effective, adjunct to care management services. The authors evaluated the feasibility of augmenting HF care management with weekly, automated assessment and behavior change calls to patients, feedback via the Internet to an out-of-home informal caregiver or CarePartner (CP), and faxes to the patient's health care team. The program included 52 HF patient-CP pairs participating for an average of 12 weeks. Patients completed 586 assessments (92% completion rate) and reported problems that might otherwise have gone unidentified. At follow-up, 75% had made changes in their self-care as a result of the intervention. The CP program may extend the impact of HF telemonitoring beyond what care management programs can realistically deliver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Caregivers*
  • Communication
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Health Surveys
  • Heart Failure / psychology*
  • Home Care Services*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Remote Consultation*
  • Self Care*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sickness Impact Profile
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome