Project Title

HEart faiLure carer support Programme: A feasibility study of the HELP intervention for carers

Research Focus

Support for carers of patients with heart failure, information resources for carers, virtual support, interventions targeted towards the needs of carers

Funder & Dates

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke 

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

Professor Donna Fitzsimons 

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Dr Loreena Hill 

Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student

Lorna Cassidy  

Name & Institution of Collaborators

Name of External Partner Organisations

Belfast, Southern and South- Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke.   

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

Aim: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a six week psychoeducational intervention developed for carers of patients with heart failure.  

Methods: A mixed methods design will be used. Carers will be recruited from three Health and Social Care Trusts (n=30) and through online advertisements. Three groups of carers consisting of 7-10 participants will receive an information booklet and take part in 6 online support group sessions that will be delivered via a secure online platform (Zoom). Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire booklet pre-intervention, post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention, that will measure: carer burden, carer preparedness, anxiety and depression, quality of life, stress and social support. They will also be invited to take part in a focus group sessions post-intervention to explore their experiences of the intervention. 

Expected outcomes: This study will provide an insight into what type of psycho-educational intervention works best for carers of patients with heart failure. It will provide results that can be applied to further research in order to develop support resources that are readily available to carers within clinical practice. 

Links/URLs to external pages, e.g., study webpage, reports, publications etc.

Cassidy, L., McGaughey, J., Hill, L. and Fitzsimons, D., (2020) The impact of psychoeducational interventions on the outcomes of caregivers of patients with heart failure: systematic review and meta-analysis, International Journal of Nursing Studies, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103806  

Cassidy, L., Hill, L., McGaughey, J., Greene, E., Dempster, M., and Fitzsimons, D., (2020) The Heart faiLure carer support Programme: feasibility study of the HELP intervention for carers (Protocol), European Journal of Heart Failure, Volume 22, Suppl.  S1, P378-379, https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1963 

Cassidy, L., Hill, L. and Fitzsimons, D., (2019) Development of a co-designed written resource for carers of patients with heart failure, European Journal Of Heart Failure, Volume 21, P95, https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1488 

Cassidy, L., Fitzsimons, D., Hill, L., McGaughey, J. and Greene, E., (2018), August. What works for caregivers in advanced heart failure: a systematic review, European Journal Of Cardiovascular Nursing, Volume 17, P7-8, https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515118787764. 

Cassidy, L., Fitzsimons, D., Hill, L., McGaughey, J. and Greene, E., (2018), May. Addressing the psycho-educational needs of caregivers of patients with advanced heart failure: a systematic review, European Journal Of Heart Failure, Issue 20, Suppl. S1, P153-154, https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1197 

Any other relevant information

This study was developed by the National Cancer Research Institute, Supportive and Palliative Care Clinical Studies Group