A pilot randomized clinical trial of a teamwork intervention for heart failure care dyads

Abstract

Background: Dyadic heart failure (HF) management can improve outcomes for patients and caregivers and can be enhanced through eHealth interventions.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an eHealth dyadic teamwork intervention, compared to an attention control condition.

Methods: We recruited 29 HF patient-caregiver dyads from inpatient units and randomized dyads to an intervention or a control group. We calculated enrollment and retention rates, described acceptability using interview and questionnaire data, and computed intervention effect sizes.

Results: 37% of eligible dyads agreed to participate and 93% of randomized participants completed follow-up questionnaires. Participants found both study conditions to be acceptable. Between-group effect sizes suggested that the intervention led to improvements in relationship quality, self-efficacy, and quality of life for patients and caregivers.

Conclusions: Dyadic recruitment from acute care settings is challenging. Findings provide initial evidence that our intervention can contribute to better health outcomes for HF dyads.

Keywords: Behavioral intervention; Dyadic research; Family caregivers; Heart failure.