Rationale, design and conduct of a randomised controlled trial evaluating a primary care-based complex intervention to improve the quality of life of heart failure patients: HICMan (Heidelberg Integrated Case Management)
2007

Improving Quality of Life for Heart Failure Patients

Sample size: 188 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Frank Peters-Klimm, Thomas Müller-Tasch, Dieter Schellberg, Jochen Gensichen, Christiane Muth, Wolfgang Herzog, Joachim Szecsenyi

Primary Institution: University Hospital of Heidelberg

Hypothesis

The case management intervention group shows a significantly better outcome with respect to QoL compared to the control group at the one-year follow-up.

Conclusion

The study aims to evaluate whether a comprehensive primary care-based case management can improve the quality of life for heart failure patients.

Supporting Evidence

  • Chronic heart failure is associated with a high burden of illness and decreased quality of life.
  • New treatment strategies focus on preventing readmissions and improving prognosis.
  • Previous studies have shown that non-medical treatments can significantly impact quality of life.

Takeaway

This study is trying to help heart failure patients feel better by giving them special care from nurses and doctors.

Methodology

A randomized controlled trial with patients as the unit of randomisation, comparing a structured intervention group to a control group receiving usual care.

Limitations

The study may have limited external validity as it is conducted in a specific healthcare setting in Germany.

Participant Demographics

Patients aged 40 and older with chronic heart failure and specific inclusion criteria.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2261-7-25

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