"Teamwork Makes the Dream Work": Initial Evidence for Enhancing Problem-Solving in Rural Heart Failure Dyads

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Gerontology
• Psychology

Background:

• Rural heart failure (HF) dyads face unique challenges in self-care and experience a higher emotional burden.
• Dyadic problem-solving interventions may improve HF self-care and reduce depressive symptoms by fostering teamwork.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of a telephone-based, tailored, dyadic problem-solving intervention.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on problem-solving skills, HF self-care contributions, and depressive symptoms in rural dyads.

Main Methods:

• A dyadic single-group repeated-measures design involving 41 rural HF dyads.
• Eight telephone sessions focused on addressing dyadic HF-related problems.
• Data collected at baseline and 5, 9, and 13 weeks using descriptive statistics and dyadic growth curve modeling.

Main Results:

• Patient problem-solving, self-care maintenance, and depressive symptoms significantly improved.
• Both patients and care partners showed significant increases in self-care confidence.
• The intervention demonstrated feasibility and positive preliminary effects in rural HF dyads.

Conclusions:

• Dyadic problem-solving interventions show promise for enhancing HF self-care and mental well-being in rural populations.
• Further research in larger clinical trials is warranted to confirm these findings.
• Telephone-based interventions can effectively support rural dyads managing heart failure.