The feasibility of a telephone coaching program on heart failure home management for family caregivers

Abstract

Objectives To test the feasibility of delivery and evaluate the helpfulness of a coaching heart failure (HF) home management program for family caregivers. Background The few available studies on providing instruction for family caregivers are limited in content for managing HF home care and guidance for program implementation. Method This pilot study employed a mixed methods design. The measures of caregiver burden, confidence, and preparedness were compared at baseline and 3 months post-intervention. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize program costs and demographic data. Content analysis research methods were used to evaluate program feasibility and helpfulness. Results Caregiver (n=10) burden scores were significantly reduced and raw scores of confidence and preparedness for HF home management improved 3 months after the intervention. Content analyses of nurse and caregiver post-intervention data found caregivers rated the program as helpful and described how they initiated HF management skills based on the program. Conclusion The program was feasible to implement. These results suggest the coaching program should be further tested with a larger sample size to evaluate its efficacy.

Burden of caring

“…Dyads being incongruent reported higher levels of psychosocial distress both within the dyad as individually (28). Another smaller study had similar results; perspectives of dyad members about the future of HF, perceived care needs and end of life issues were found to be congruent at times and incongruent at other times and incongruence was associated with conflicts and distress within dyads (26). Future research is needed to explore the relationship between e.g.…”

“…The same research group did a small RCT study showing positive effects in terms of reducing caregiver burden by educational support to caregivers (25). Another pilot study evaluating the effects of a coaching home management program for HF caregivers found that caregiver burden, preparedness and confidence to care improved (26).…”

Providing Heart Failure Rehabilitation in the Home via Telerehabilitation

“…Telecoaching can be used to provide in-home support or advice on risk factor modifications via motivational text messaging (Frederix et al, 2015b) and coaching sessions over the telephone (Piamjariyakul et al, 2013).…”

Caring needs in patient-partner dyads affected by heart failure: An evaluation of the long-term effects of a dyadic psycho-educational intervention

“…A pilot study using telemonitoring by an advanced practice nurse after discharge from a hospitalisation due to HF found no effect on emergency department visits, costs, or risk of readmission for patients with HF [88]. There have also been interventions targeting only partners of HF patients [89][90][91][92][93]. Two studies used telehealthcare and phone support, which resulted in reduced caregiver burden and higher stress mastery [89,90].…”

“…There have also been interventions targeting only partners of HF patients [89][90][91][92][93]. Two studies used telehealthcare and phone support, which resulted in reduced caregiver burden and higher stress mastery [89,90].…”