Helping heart failure patients take their medications with family support and clear information

Improving medication adherence using family-focused and literacy-sensitive strategies in patients with heart failure

NIH-funded research University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11269403

This project helps patients with heart failure and their family members work together to make sure medications are taken correctly, aiming to improve health and prevent hospital stays.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Knoxville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11269403 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people with heart failure find it hard to stick to their medication schedule, which can lead to serious health problems and hospital visits. This project aims to create a new program, called FamLit, that helps patients and their family caregivers understand and manage medications better. Nurses will deliver this program using easy-to-understand language and interactive methods like coaching and role-playing. The goal is to give patients and their families the tools and support they need to consistently take medications and improve overall health.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with heart failure who struggle with taking their medications as prescribed and have a family member or care partner willing to participate.

Not a fit: Patients who already consistently take their medications or do not have a care partner to involve may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help patients with heart failure stay healthier, reduce their need for hospital visits, and improve their quality of life by making medication management easier.

How similar studies have performed: While some previous interventions have shown small, short-term improvements in medication adherence, this approach is novel in combining literacy-sensitive and family-focused strategies for sustained effects.

Where this research is happening

Knoxville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.