Occupational Performance Coaching for Adults with Heart Failure: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) usually experience functional disabilities and face participation challenges. Self-care behavior is an essential component of long-term management of HF. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effect of occupational performance coaching (OPC) on self-care behaviors and participation in people with HF. Method: This study is a parallel group, single-blind, randomized controlled trial of 44 adults with HF, to evaluate the efficacy of OPC. Patients will be randomly allocated (1:1) into two groups. Both groups will receive usual self-care education and the intervention group will receive eight weekly sessions of OPC as well. We will measure the primary and secondary outcomes at baseline, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention initiation. Implications: If OPC is superior to usual self-care education on improving self-care behavior and participation, the finding will support the integration of OPC into practice to improve participation and self-care behaviors of HF patients.