Effects of Family-Based Frailty Self-Management Program on Caregivers of Patients with Heart Failure
Other Titles
Effects of Family-Based Self-Management Program on Knowledge, Strain, Quality of Life in Heart Failure Caregivers [Poster Title]
Abstract
Background: Family caregivers of patients with heart failure often experience decreased confidence in caregiving due to limited heart failure knowledge, the complexity of patient's condition and treatment, and insufficient social or professional support. These challenges can adversely affect caregivers' quality of life.
Objective: The study examined the effects of a family-based frailty self-management program (FRAIL-SM) on knowledge, self-care confidence, strain, and quality of life among family caregivers of patients with heart failure.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 116 pairs of frail patients with heart failure and their family caregivers recruited from two medical centers in Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental group (n = 116) or control group (n = 116). The experimental group received an 8-week FRAIL-SM intervention comprising four 40–60-minute family-based video sessions and eight 15–20-minute follow-up phone calls. The control group received only routine hospital care. Outcomes were measured using the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale, the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, the Caregiver Strain Index, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after enrollment. Data were analyzed with independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and generalized estimating equations.
Results: The knowledge level of family caregivers improved over time in both groups. Although both groups showed significant increases in knowledge from baseline to week 12, no significant difference was observed between them. Caregivers demonstrated low confidence in managing heart failure and showed no statistically significant changes after the intervention. Both groups exhibited significant reductions in caregiver strain compared to baseline; however, between-group differences were not significant. Quality of life improved in both groups over time. Notably, the experimental group demonstrated greater improvement in overall quality of life at week 4 (B = 2.54, p = .039) and in the environmental domain at week 4 (B = 1.02, p = .006), with the effect sustained through week 12 (B = 0.70, p = .029).
Conclusion: The 8-week FRAIL-SM intervention significantly enhanced the quality of life of family caregivers of patients with heart failure. Future interventions should incorporate caregiver-centered strategies and be integrated into clinical practice to support both patients and their caregivers.
Notes
References:
Clements, L., Frazier, S. K., Lennie, T. A., Chung, M. L., & Moser, D. K. (2023). Improvement in heart failure self-care and patient readmissions with caregiver education: A randomized controlled trial. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 45(5), 402-415. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459221141296
Ding, T. Y. G., De Roza, J. G., Chan, C. Y., Lee, P. S. S., Ong, S. K., Lew, K. J., Koh, H. L., & Lee, E. S. (2022). Factors associated with family caregiver burden among frail older persons with multimorbidity. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/ 10.1186/s12877-022-02858-2
Liljeroos, M. A., Miller, J. L., Lennie, T. A., & Chung, M. L. (2022). Quality of life and family function are poorest when both patients with heart failure and their caregivers are depressed. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 21(3), 220-226. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvab071.
Suksatan, W., Tankumpuan, T., & Davidson, P. M. (2022). Heart failure caregiver burden and outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13, 21501319221112584. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319221112584
Wu, Y., Qiu, S., Wang, D., Li, X., 2025. Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards worsening heart failure among caregivers of older adults with chronic heart failure: A cross-sectional study in Guangzhou, China. BMJ Open, 15 (7), e092734. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092734
Zhao, C., Lu, X., Li, Y., Li, J., Gao, Y., 2024. Predictors of quality of life in primary caregivers of patients with heart failure: A model of health literacy and caregiving burden. Heart & Lung 65, 78-83. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2024.02.006
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Primary Care, Caregivers, Quality of Life, Caregiver Burden, Caregiver Education, Caregiver Support, Taiwan
Recommended Citation
Yang, Yung-Ching and Chiou, Ai-Fu, "Effects of Family-Based Frailty Self-Management Program on Caregivers of Patients with Heart Failure" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 42.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/42
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-29
Funder
National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
Effects of Family-Based Frailty Self-Management Program on Caregivers of Patients with Heart Failure
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Family caregivers of patients with heart failure often experience decreased confidence in caregiving due to limited heart failure knowledge, the complexity of patient's condition and treatment, and insufficient social or professional support. These challenges can adversely affect caregivers' quality of life.
Objective: The study examined the effects of a family-based frailty self-management program (FRAIL-SM) on knowledge, self-care confidence, strain, and quality of life among family caregivers of patients with heart failure.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 116 pairs of frail patients with heart failure and their family caregivers recruited from two medical centers in Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental group (n = 116) or control group (n = 116). The experimental group received an 8-week FRAIL-SM intervention comprising four 40–60-minute family-based video sessions and eight 15–20-minute follow-up phone calls. The control group received only routine hospital care. Outcomes were measured using the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale, the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, the Caregiver Strain Index, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after enrollment. Data were analyzed with independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and generalized estimating equations.
Results: The knowledge level of family caregivers improved over time in both groups. Although both groups showed significant increases in knowledge from baseline to week 12, no significant difference was observed between them. Caregivers demonstrated low confidence in managing heart failure and showed no statistically significant changes after the intervention. Both groups exhibited significant reductions in caregiver strain compared to baseline; however, between-group differences were not significant. Quality of life improved in both groups over time. Notably, the experimental group demonstrated greater improvement in overall quality of life at week 4 (B = 2.54, p = .039) and in the environmental domain at week 4 (B = 1.02, p = .006), with the effect sustained through week 12 (B = 0.70, p = .029).
Conclusion: The 8-week FRAIL-SM intervention significantly enhanced the quality of life of family caregivers of patients with heart failure. Future interventions should incorporate caregiver-centered strategies and be integrated into clinical practice to support both patients and their caregivers.
Description
This study confirmed that the family-based frailty self-management program, which combines educational content with individualized nursing support, can enhance caregivers' knowledge, reduce strain, and significantly improve their quality of life.