The coping in heart failure (COPE-HF) partnership intervention for heart failure symptoms: Implications for palliative care

Background A major focus of HF palliative care is to reduce symptom burden, yet managing HF symptoms is complex and requires adequate problem-solving skills. Telehealth interventions that provide support and problem-solving training may enhance symptom management and reduce symptom distress. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the preliminary effectiveness of the Coping in Heart Failure (COPE-HF) Partnership telehealth intervention (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05337293) on HF symptom frequency, severity, and symptom-related degree of interference with physical activity and enjoyment of life. Methods This was a three-group randomized controlled pilot study. The intervention group received one home visit and weekly (first month), then biweekly (months 2, 3) telephone calls. The attention group received a sham intervention on a similar schedule. The control group received usual care. The Heart Failure Symptom Survey was administered at baseline, 5, 9, and 13 weeks. Linear mixed modeling with restricted maximum likelihood estimation examined intervention effects on study outcomes. Results Of 107 enrolled participants, 66 completed the study. Participants were 61 years old; 56% non-Caucasian; and 54.2% male. Significant improvement in total HF symptoms and all sub-scales from baseline to 13 weeks were noted in the intervention group, with the largest improvement seen in HF symptom severity (md  = −2.59, <0.001, 95% CI [−3.65, −1.53]). Conclusion Providing support and tailored problem-solving training as a component of palliative care may empower patients to develop strategies to manage bothersome symptoms, thereby decreasing symptom severity. However, more research is needed to examine this intervention in a larger sample. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05337293.