%0 Journal Article
%T Health Coaching Improves Outcomes of Informal Caregivers of Adults With Chronic Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
%A Riegel B
%A Quinn R
%A Hirschman KB
%A Thomas G
%A Ashare R
%A Stawnychy MA
%A Bowles KH
%A Aryal S
%A Wald JW
%J Circ Heart Fail
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 21
%M 38904103
%F 10.447
%R 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.123.011475
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Caring for someone with heart failure takes an emotional and physical toll. Engaging in self-care may decrease stress and improve the health of informal caregivers. We conducted a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a virtual health coaching intervention, compared with health information alone, on the self-care, stress, coping, and health status of heart failure caregivers.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We enrolled 250 caregivers providing care at least 8 hours/week, reporting poor self-care, and able to use technology. All received a tablet device programmed with websites providing vetted information on heart failure and caregiving. Half were randomized to also receive 10 synchronous support sessions virtually with a health coach over 6 months. Data on self-care, stress, coping, and health status were collected at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the interaction between time and treatment group.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The sample was majority female (85.2%), White (62.2%), spouses (59.8%), and aged 55±13.6 years. Many were employed full time (41.8%). They had been caring for the patient 8 hours/day for a median of 3.25 years. In the intention-to-treat analysis, caregivers who received the health coach intervention had statistically and clinically greater improvement across 6 months compared with the control group in the primary outcome of self-care maintenance (5.05±1.99; P=0.01) and stress (-4.50±1.00; P<0.0001). Self-care neglect declined significantly (-0.65±0.32; P=0.04), but the difference between the treatment arms disappeared when the results were adjusted for multiple comparisons. Mental health status improved statistically but not clinically (3.35±1.61; P=0.04). Active coping improved in both groups but not significantly more in the intervention group (P=0.10). Physical health status was unchanged (P=0.27).<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This virtual health coaching intervention was effective in improving self-care and stress in heart failure caregivers.