Overview
The study aims to develop and evaluate a web-based interactive platform (called 'My Voice') that helps to educate patients with heart failure and their caregivers about heart failure, identify their goals for end-of-life care, and share these with their caregivers and doctors.
Description
The research study consists of 3 phases:
- Usability testing - to assess the usability of 'My Voice' with patients with heart failure, their caregivers and healthcare providers,
- Pilot testing - to test the feasibility of implementation and workflow of 'My Voice' and the survey questionnaires with a small group of participants and,
- Randomized controlled trial- to evaluate the effectiveness of 'My Voice' with a control group who do not receive the intervention in improving patient outcomes
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- The inclusion criteria for patients are
- Age ≥ 21 years old
- Singaporean or Permanent Resident
- Diagnosed with heart failure
- Symptoms classified under NYHA class II (with an ejection fraction of less than or equal to 35%), III or IV
- Intact cognition determined through the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) (for pilot testing and main RCT)
- Ability to speak and read English, Mandarin or Malay
- Willing to complete a web intervention
- Easily contactable via mobile phone or landline
- Have a permanent address in Singapore for at least the next 1 year
- Not recruited in a previous phase of the study
The inclusion criteria for caregivers are
- Age ≥ 21 years old
- Nominated as a healthcare spokesperson by the patient or the main decision maker for the patient (for intervention arm only)
- Ability to speak and read English, Mandarin or Malay
- Willing to complete a web intervention
- Easily contactable via mobile phone or landline
- Have a permanent address in Singapore for at least the next 1 year
Exclusion criteria for caregivers are:
- domestic helper