Improving Symptoms and Quality of Life in Chronic Heart Failure: Pilot Study — CASA  

Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) Clinical Trial

Official title: Implementing Collaborative Care to Alleviate Symptoms and Adjust to Heart Failure: A Pilot Study

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the pilot implementation of two palliative care interventions in veterans with chronic heart failure at the Denver VA Medical Center. This is a study of behavioral and care strategy interventions and involves no investigational drugs or devices.

Clinical Trial Description

The investigators will examine the feasibility of two palliative care interventions designed to improve different facets of quality of life. Briefly, the two interventions are:

1. A palliative symptom management and psychosocial care intervention named Collaborative Care to Alleviate Symptoms and Adjust to Illness (CASA) that includes

1. evidence-based palliative symptom management of breathlessness, fatigue, and pain, provided by a nurse;

2. a 6-session structured psychosocial care protocol targeting depression and adjustment to illness, supplemented by informal (family) caregiver assessment and support, provided by a social worker or psychologist; and

3. brief weekly team meetings with the nurse, social worker/psychologist and a palliative care specialist, cardiologist, and primary care provider.

2. A psychospiritual intervention that is home-based, self-guided, and requires minimal resources. It will be delivered in written modular form via US Mail along with brief weekly telephone support.

The specific aims of the study are to:

1. Examine intervention feasibility and determine preliminary estimates of intervention effect

1. Determine patient participation rates and cohort retention

2. Conduct a preliminary assessment of outcomes by measuring pre-post changes in quality of life, depressive symptoms, health status, life meaning, and spirituality.

2. Obtain qualitative feedback from study participants, the persons providing the intervention, and providers/leaders in primary care, mental health, palliative care, chaplaincy, and hospital operations. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Chronic Heart Failure (CHF)
• Heart Failure

• NCT number: NCT01581008
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 2011
• Completion date: December 2012