Effects of a person-centred telephone support on fatigue in people with chronic heart failure: Subgroup analysis of a randomised controlled trial

Introduction: Fatigue is a prevalent symptom that is associated with various conditions. In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), fatigue is one of the most commonly reported and distressing symptoms and it is associated with disease progression. Person-centred care (PCC) is a fruitful approach to increase the patient’s ability to handle their illness. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PCC in the form of structured telephone support on self-reported fatigue in patients with CHF. Method: This study reports a subgroup analysis of a secondary outcome measure from the Care4Ourselves randomised intervention. Patients ( n=77) that were at least 50 years old who had been hospitalized due to worsening CHF received either usual care ( n=38) or usual care and PCC in the form of structured telephone support ( n=39). Participants in the intervention group created a health plan in partnership with a registered nurse. The plan was followed up and evaluated by telephone. Self-reported fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20 (MFI-20) at baseline and at 6 months. Linear regression was used to analyse the change in MFI-20 score between the groups. Results: The intervention group improved significantly from baseline to the 6-month follow-up compared with the control group regarding the ‘reduced motivation’ dimension of the MFI-20 (Δ -1.41 versus 0.38, p=0.046). Conclusion: PCC in the form of structured telephone support shows promise in supporting patients with CHF in their rehabilitation, improve health-related quality of life and reduce adverse events. Trial registration ISRCTN.com ISRCTN55562827