Development and testing of a goals of care intervention in advanced heart failure

The purpose of this paper is to describe the conceptual framework for a goals of care (GoC) intervention, elements, and findings of intervention feasibility, acceptability, and benefits from both patients with heart failure (HF) and their providers.

Receiving care at a mechanical circulatory support center for advanced HF offers new opportunities for treatment, making the implementation of a GoC intervention timely and crucial in helping patients determine next steps in HF treatment.

The GoC intervention was designed using a self-management framework, incorporating the concepts of self-efficacy, patient activation, and patient motivation. At the conclusion of the study, open-ended exit interviews were conducted with patients and providers. Content analysis was used to derive the feasibility, acceptability, and benefits of the intervention.

Forty-one patients with HF, with average age 58.2±11.3years, LVEF=30.3±9.7%, and New York Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA FC)=2.4±0.8, and nine HF providers participated in the study. Patient benefits from the intervention included enhanced communication with their provider and family members, increased confidence to have a conversation with the provider, and refreshed HF knowledge. Provider benefits from the intervention were facilitating a conversation with the patient and learning new information about the patient's goals and values.

The GoC intervention provides an avenue to align patient goals and values with treatment choices in the context of advanced heart failure, so that patient quality of life is enhanced and costs of care can be reduced.