Palliative care interventions for heart failure patients and their caregivers

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study evaluates a novel palliative care model called TIER-HF-PC, designed to improve care delivery for patients with advanced heart failure and their caregivers. Led by a palliative care nurse and supported by a physician, the program actively screens patients for issues and tailors palliative care treatments based on their reported problems. The goal is to enhance patient quality of life, reduce healthcare utilization, and empower patients and caregivers through proactive support and education. The effectiveness of this model will be assessed over a 24-week period, focusing on various health outcomes.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients:

  1. 21 years or older and
  2. able to communicate in English/Chinese/Malay and
  3. be of stage C or D heart failure, as defined by American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) classification system and
  4. have functional limitation of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional status of at least 2 or more and
  5. be deemed by their cardiologist's clinical judgement to have an expected prognosis of at least 6 months survival, and
  6. have had a heart failure related hospitalization event (e.g. symptomatic decompensated heart failure) within 6 months prior to recruitment and
  7. have a phone that allows telecommunication.
* Caregivers must meet all the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for the study :

  * direct, unpaid, family caregiver of the patient;
  * self-reported by the patient to be the main person to be either:
  * responsible for up to 4 hours a day of caregiving tasks
  * and/or decision maker/spokesperson with the medical team
  * Caregiver may or may not live in the same residence as the patient.
  * Caregivers must be 21 years and above.
  * Able to communicate in English/Chinese/Malay.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients:

  1. have cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia)
  2. have severe, untreated, active mental illness (e.g., major depressive disorder)
  3. have ventricular assist device implant.
  4. have non-reversible hearing or visual loss or
  5. are active drug abuser or
  6. already known to a palliative care service.
* Caregivers who meet any of the exclusion criteria at baseline will be ineligible for the study:

  * have cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia) or
  * have severe, untreated, active mental illness (e.g., major depressive disorder)
  * have non-reversible hearing or visual loss.
  * are active drug abuser or
  * are a domestic helper for the patient

Where it's running

• National Heart Centre Singapore
  Singapore, Singapore Recruiting
• Sengkang General Hospital
  Singapore, Singapore Recruiting
• Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
  Singapore, Singapore Recruiting
• National Cancer Centre, Singapore
  Singapore, Singapore Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Dr Shirlyn Neo, MBBS, MRCP (UK), MMed, FAMS — National Cancer Centre, Singapore
• Study coordinator: Dr Shirlyn Neo, MBBS, MRCP (UK), MMed, FAMS
• Email: shirlyn.neo.h.s@singhealth.com.sg
• Phone: +65 63065838

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.