Trial results for a Heart Failure caregiver intervention study were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-11-24, involving 33 participants. The study, titled "Heart Failure Resilience Intervention for Caregivers," reported improvements in caregiver goal attainment and reduced caregiver burden in the intervention group compared to a waitlist control.
Background
Heart failure (HF) patients often rely on supportive caregivers, which can positively impact their physical health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. However, caregiving responsibilities can lead to an increased risk of worsening health for caregivers themselves, who frequently experience a sense of burden. Despite their crucial role, caregivers typically receive limited support to help them balance patient care with their own self-care needs. This research aimed to address this gap by providing a structured program for caregivers of advanced heart failure patients, designed to leverage their strengths, foster a sense of purpose, and facilitate healthy lifestyle changes.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 33 participants, focusing on conditions including Heart Failure and Caregivers. The trial investigated a program for caregivers of advanced heart failure patients, which aimed to build on caregiver strengths, sense of purpose, and set goals for healthy lifestyle changes. Participants were divided into a HEROIC Intervention Group and a Waitlist Control Group.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to caregiver outcomes:
- Goal Attainment of Preventive Health Behaviors as Measured by the Goal Attainment Scale (t-score):
- For the HEROIC Intervention Group, mean scores were 40 (Standard Deviation 0), then 57.5 (Standard Deviation 8.9), and finally 68 (Standard Deviation 4.5).
- For the Waitlist Control Group, mean scores were 40 (Standard Deviation 0), then 52.5 (Standard Deviation 13.9), and finally 51.7 (Standard Deviation 9.9).
- Caregiver Burden as Assessed by the Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale (score on a scale):
- For the HEROIC Intervention Group, mean scores were 50.2 (Standard Deviation 16.7), then 40.9 (Standard Deviation 18.3), and finally 34.4 (Standard Deviation 21.1).
- For the Waitlist Control Group, mean scores were 46.8 (Standard Deviation 17.8), then 43.0 (Standard Deviation 24.2), and finally 45.4 (Standard Deviation 27.9).
What this means
The results suggest that the HEROIC intervention program for caregivers of heart failure patients may positively impact their well-being. The intervention group demonstrated a notable increase in goal attainment for preventive health behaviors over time, reaching a mean t-score of 68 compared to 51.7 in the control group at the final measurement. Concurrently, caregiver burden, as measured by the Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale, showed a decrease in the intervention group, with a final mean score of 34.4, while the control group's burden remained higher at 45.4. These findings indicate that structured support programs could be beneficial in empowering caregivers and alleviating the burden associated with their vital role, potentially leading to improved health outcomes for both caregivers and patients. Given the small sample size of 33 participants, these results warrant further investigation in larger studies.
Source
The information for these trial results was sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public registry of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03963583, titled "Heart Failure Resilience Intervention for Caregivers," were posted on 2025-11-24 on clinicaltrials.gov.