Co-design and feasibility testing of the heart failure carer support programme (HELP): A convergent, mixed-method study

IF 2.9 2区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Patient Education and Counseling Pub Date : 2025-03-20 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2025.108760

Lorna Cassidy , Gareth Thompson , Loreena Hill , Jennifer McGaughey , Martin Dempster , Eunice Greene , Patrick Donnelly , Lana Dixon , Patricia Campbell , Donna Fitzsimons

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

This study co-designed and feasibility tested a novel psychoeducational intervention delivered online to carers of patients with heart failure (HF) and examined the potential impact on carer-related outcomes.

Methods

The HEart faiLure carer support Programme (HELP) was co-designed with carers and healthcare professionals at a large University hospital. This intervention comprises an information booklet and six psychoeducational support group sessions delivered online by a multidisciplinary team. A convergent mixed-method design examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of HELP. Carers of patients with HF were recruited in the United Kingdom (UK) via clinical teams along with printed and online advertisements. Quantitative measurements included carer-related outcomes (carer burden, carer preparedness, quality of life, anxiety, depression, stress, and social support) and feasibility assessments (recruitment rates, attrition, and intervention usefulness). Focus groups conducted post-intervention qualitatively investigated the acceptability of HELP. Data was collected at baseline, 6 weeks post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed with descriptive and thematic analysis, respectively. The results were integrated to generate a holistic understanding of the findings.

Results

51 carers were eligible and 22 (43 %) provided consent. Of those 22, 18 (89 %) participated and 12 (67 %) completed all intervention sessions. Participants highly rated the usefulness of the intervention via a feedback questionnaire (4.7 ± 0.59 out of 5, overall) and positive changes were found across the following carer-related outcomes: anxiety, depression, caregiver burden, stress, preparedness, and social support. Data integration generated three key findings: (1) Improved carer preparedness and knowledge, (2) Support from group environment, and (3) Emotional support and personal wellbeing.

Conclusions

HELP delivery to carers of patients with HF is feasible and potentially provides emotional support and empowerment in their caring role.

Practice implications

HELP will advance to implementation testing across the UK to inform large-scale adoption in routine clinical practice.

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心力衰竭护理人员支持计划（HELP）的共同设计和可行性测试：一项融合、混合方法研究

目的：本研究为心力衰竭患者的护理人员设计了一种新的在线心理教育干预，并对其可行性进行了测试，并研究了其对职业相关结局的潜在影响。方法与某大型大学医院的护理人员和医疗保健专业人员共同设计心力衰竭护理人员支持计划（HELP）。这项干预包括一本信息小册子和由一个多学科小组在线提供的六次心理教育支持小组会议。融合混合方法设计检验了HELP的可行性、可接受性和潜在影响。在英国，通过临床团队以及印刷和在线广告招募心衰患者的护理人员。定量测量包括职业相关结果（照顾者负担、照顾者准备、生活质量、焦虑、抑郁、压力和社会支持）和可行性评估（招募率、减员率和干预有效性）。焦点小组进行干预后定性调查帮助的可接受性。在基线、干预后6周和干预后3个月收集数据。定量数据采用描述性分析，定性数据采用专题分析。这些结果被综合起来，以产生对研究结果的整体理解。结果51名护理人员符合条件，22名（43% %）表示同意。其中18人（89 %）参加，12人（67 %）完成了所有的干预。参与者通过反馈问卷对干预的有用性给予了高度评价（总分为4.7 ± 0.59），并且在以下与职业相关的结果中发现了积极的变化：焦虑、抑郁、照顾者负担、压力、准备和社会支持。数据整合产生了三个主要发现：(1)改善照顾者的准备和知识；(2)来自群体环境的支持；(3)情感支持和个人幸福感。结论对心衰患者的照护者实施shelp是可行的，并可能为他们的照护提供情感支持和授权。实践意义shelp将推进在英国的实施测试，以便在常规临床实践中大规模采用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Patient Education and Counseling 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

11.40%

发文量

384

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Patient Education and Counseling is an interdisciplinary, international journal for patient education and health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians. The journal seeks to explore and elucidate the educational, counseling and communication models in health care. Its aim is to provide a forum for fundamental as well as applied research, and to promote the study of organizational issues involved with the delivery of patient education, counseling, health promotion services and training models in improving communication between providers and patients.