LVAD Caregivers, LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device), Quality of Life (QOL), Self-Compassion
Conditions
Brief summary
Research has shown that LVAD patients and their caregivers typically experience increased mental health concerns and decreased quality of life following LVAD implantation and hospital discharge. The purpose of this study is to explore how to improve quality of life for LVAD patients and their caregivers in the initial transition from hospital to home after LVAD implantation. Over the course of the study, participants will complete 2 surveys: one when participants are in the hospital and one at a 2-month post-hospital follow-up appointment with the participants' cardiologist. Participants may be contacted if there is data missing from surveys. Participants may also be provided with information on improving mental health in the form of handouts or a brief meeting with a psychology provider.
Interventions
OTHERInformation
Participants provided handouts with information on self-compassion
BEHAVIORALMeeting
Participants meet with a psychological provider to receive information on self-compassion and training on how to utilize self-compassion
Sponsors
University of Florida
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* LVAD implantation or caregiver or patient with LVAD; over 18 years old; primary caregiver is a family member
Exclusion criteria
* Currently or in the past 3 months received psychotherapy or psychosocial or peer support; hospitalized for psychiatric reasons in the past 6 months; current, active suicidal thoughts or a reported suicide attempt within the past year; a current alcohol/substance use disorder that required immediate treatment; or a current or past thought disorder, psychosis, or unmanaged bipolar disorder; enrolled in another investigational research/clinical trial; toxic/negative dynamic between pt and caregiver; extended post-LVAD implantation course (i.e., more than 2 months in the hospital).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-compassion | 2 months | Level of self-compassion a participant reports using the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form (Raes et al., 2011). Scores range from 1-5. |
| QOL | 2 months | Quality of Life will be measured using the 16 item Quality of Life Scale (Burckhardt et al., 1989). Scores range from 16-112, with higher scores indicating higher levels of quality of life. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NYHA | 2 months | — |
| Cardiac Self-Efficacy | 2 months | The Cardiac Self-Efficacy Scale (Sullivan et al., 1998) is a 13-item measure that measures self-efficacy in patients with cardiac problems across 2 subscales: maintain and control. Scores are averaged across the two subscales. Scores range from 0-4, with higher scores indicating higher confidence or perceived self-efficacy. |
| General Self-Efficacy | 2 months | General Self-efficacy will be measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Weinman et al., 1995). The GSE is a 10-item scale with scores ranging from 10-40, with higher scores indicating more self-efficacy. |
| Illness Denial | 2 months | Illness denial will be measured using the Illness Denial Questionnaire. Caregivers will receive the caregiver version, and patients will receive the patient version. Both versions are 24-items, with scores ranging from 0-24. Higher scores indicate higher levels of denial |
| Perceived Stress Scale | 2 months | — |
| Caregiver Burden | 2 months | Caregiver burden will be assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview - Short Form, which is a 12 item questionnaire assessing caregiver burden. Scores range from 0-48, with a score over 20 indicating high burden. |
| Acceptability & Feasibility of Intervention | 2 months | Participants will be asked about the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention they receive. Scores range from 0-5, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability and higher feasibility (i.e., the intervention felt easy to complete and use). |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed