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Taking Care of Us© (TCU) study protocol: feasibility and acceptability of a dyadic intervention for couples living

Karen S Lyons1, Carol J Whitlatch2, Amanda R Vest3,4

  • 1Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing, Maloney Hall, 231, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA. karen.lyons@bc.edu.

Pilot and Feasibility Studies
|January 26, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study tests the feasibility of the Taking Care of Us© (TCU©) intervention for couples managing heart failure. The TCU© program aims to improve the health of both patients and partners through collaborative illness management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Health Services Research
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Heart failure affects over 1 million Americans annually, leading to significant healthcare utilization.
  • Spouses/partners play a crucial role in heart failure management but are often overlooked in interventions.
  • High levels of care strain and poor health are common among partners of heart failure patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the feasibility and acceptability of the Taking Care of Us© (TCU©) couple-based intervention for heart failure management.
  • To explore preliminary changes in dyadic health, appraisal, and collaborative management outcomes.
  • To inform refinements for a larger randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

  • A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 60 couples (adult with heart failure and co-residing partner).
  • Two arms: TCU© intervention (7 sessions over 2 months via Zoom) and a control condition (SUPPORT©, 3 sessions over 2 months via Zoom).
  • Data collection at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up using self-report measures, feasibility metrics (enrollment, retention, completion), and satisfaction surveys.

Main Results:

  • Feasibility and acceptability of the TCU© intervention will be assessed through enrollment, retention, completion rates, and participant satisfaction.
  • Preliminary changes in dyadic health, dyadic appraisal, and collaborative management will be explored.
  • The study will identify benefits and drawbacks of the TCU© program.

Conclusions:

  • Theoretically driven, evidence-based dyadic interventions are essential for optimizing the health of couples affected by heart failure.
  • Results will guide program refinement and the design of a main trial for the TCU© intervention.
  • This study addresses a critical gap in focusing on the dyadic nature of heart failure management.
Abstract

Keywords:
CollaborationCommunicationCouplesDyadic healthHeart failureMental healthPhysical healthSupportZoom-based

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