Home palliative care for heart failure patients in rural Appalachia

Sustaining Home Palliative Care for Patients With Heart Failure (HF) and Their Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Mixed Methods Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT).

NA · West Virginia University · NCT06791850

This study tests a new home care program for families taking care of loved ones with advanced heart failure in rural Appalachia to see if it improves their quality of life and reduces stress over a year.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment208 (estimated)
Ages45 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorWest Virginia University (other)
Locations1 site (Morgantown, West Virginia)
Trial IDNCT06791850 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial tests an integrated nurse-led intervention bundle designed for family home care management of end-stage heart failure in rural Appalachia. The study involves a randomized controlled trial comparing the new home palliative care intervention (HF-FamPALhomeCARE) with standard care for patients with advanced heart failure and their family caregivers. The aim is to assess improvements in health-related quality of life, caregiver burden, and mental health outcomes over a 12-month period. The trial will include 104 patient-family caregiver dyads and will evaluate various health metrics at multiple follow-up points.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 50 to 80 years with advanced heart failure (NYHA Class III or IV) and their caregivers aged 45 to 80 years.

Not a fit: Patients who have received a heart transplant, are on a waiting list for a transplant or LVAD, or have a terminal illness or dementia may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve the quality of life and mental health outcomes for heart failure patients and their caregivers in rural areas.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar nurse-led palliative care interventions, particularly in improving patient and caregiver outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult patients' age between 50 to 80 years with advanced HF (NYHA III or IV), diagnosed by physician
2. Caregivers' age between 45 to 80 years.
3. Alert and consent to participate
4. Able to read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Already received or are on a waiting list for a heart transplant or left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
2. Diagnosed with a terminal illness or dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease

Where this trial is running

Morgantown, West Virginia

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Heart Failure NYHA Class III, Heart Failure NYHA Class IV, advanced heart failure, home palliative care, family caregiver, rural Appalachia

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.