The development and pilot study of a nurse-led HOMe-based HEart failure self-Management Programme (the HOM-HEMP) for patients with chronic heart failure, following Medical Research Council guidelines

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and readmissions. Managing CHF requires a comprehensive treatment plan that consists of medication treatment and behavioural change. However, patients often feel unprepared for their self-management role in the community, especially during the period of transition after discharge from hospital. Therefore, an effective intervention to promote CHF self-management is needed. Aims: This paper describes the development and pilot testing of a multicomponent nursing intervention (i.e. the HOM-HEMP) for a randomised controlled trial to assess its effectiveness in improving self-care behaviour among CHF patients in Singapore. A description of the study intervention is also delineated in detail. Methods: The HOM-HEMP was developed based on the UK Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions. After the development of the study intervention, a single group pre- and post-repeated measure pilot test was conducted to evaluate the study intervention package for its acceptability and the feasibility of the data collection procedure. Ten participants were recruited through consecutive sampling. All of the participants received the full intervention package with the supplementary mobile application. The data were collected at baseline and immediately after the study intervention (i.e. 6 weeks from baseline). The outcome measures included the Self-Care Heart Failure Index, Cardiac Self-Efficacy Scale, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Short Form of the Social Support Questionnaire. Results: The results from the pilot testing showed that the programme was feasible and potentially effective in improving patient’s self-care management, psychological outcomes and health-related quality of life. Conclusion: A self-management psychosocial education approach is the preferred choice for many patients with chronic diseases. The effectiveness of the HOM-HEMP will next be tested in a full scale randomised control trial.