Web-based Support to Caregivers Supporting a Person With Heart Failure - a Randomised Controlled Trial With a Process Evaluation

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Caregivers of people with heart failure experience a lack of support from health care in their caring role. They often want to become more involved in care, receive education and have the opportunity to share experiences with other caregivers. Objectives and hypothesis: Our hypothesis is that an internet-based support program that is developed in collaboration with caregivers of people with heart failure will increase preparedness to care (Preparedness for Caregiving Scale). We will also evaluate the effects of the support program on the experiences of caring including positive experiences and the impact of care on health and lifestyle (Caregiver Competence Scale, Rewards of Caregiving Scale, Heart Failure-Caregiver Questionnaire) and their management of heart failure (knowledge of heart failure, support for heart failure self-care and perceived control over heart disease). We will also explore if the patients' healthcare consumption is altered when caregivers receive more support. Method: The project is a randomized controlled study where 300 caregivers from four health care regions will be randomised to either receive a support program via 1177 care guide or to a control group waiting list who receive standard support from health care and municipalities. After the termination of the study participants in the control group will also be offered access to the support program. Data will be collected with questionnaires at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. A process evaluation with semi-structured interviews to describe the relatives' experiences of using the program with be conducted. Relevance: Caregivers have been involved in all stages of the development of the Internet-based support program. The evaluation focuses on both the effects of the intervention and factors that affect implementation and equality. Caregiver support that is delivered through 1177 care guide enables a more equal, efficient and accessible support for caregivers.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• A close relative identified by the patient who cares for, supports or helps this patient with a verified heart failure diagnosis ICD codes within I42 or I50 (i.e. all types of heart failure).

Locations
Other Locations
Sweden
Linköping University Hospital
RECRUITING
Linköping
Contact Information
Primary
Anna Stromberg, PhD
anna.stromberg@liu.se
+46-73-6569265
Time Frame
Start Date: 2021-05-15
Estimated Completion Date: 2025-12-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 300
Treatments
Experimental: Intervention group
Study participants will receive a web-based support program
No_intervention: Control group waiting list
Study participants in the control group waiting list will receive standard support from health care and municipalities. After study termination they will receive access to the same web-based program as the experimental group
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: Linkoeping University

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov