Addressing Pain Through Navigator-Led Palliative Care Optimized for Heart Failure (ADAPT-HF)

Developing culturally-responsive, effective, efficient, and scalable and unpacking mechanisms of action of heart failure palliative care interventions have been identified a key research priorities by NIH, AHA, and others. To begin to answer questions of mechanism and efficiency, the study team explored the dose effect of ENABLE CHF-PC, a large phase III RCT that demonstrated small improvements in secondary outcomes of pain intensity and interference. These additional exploratory analyses showed that those with poor baseline QOL and high pain intensity who received a full intervention dose had improved outcomes.

However ENABLE CHF-PC and other HF PC studies included interventions designed to be delivered as a "bundled" package where all intervention participants received the same intervention at set times and dose, making it hard to assess which content or dose led to outcome change. To efficiently test multiple intervention components, doses, and intensity simultaneously requires innovative methods and frameworks, like the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). Guided by the Total Pain Theory and ENABLE CHF-PC and other HF PC and pain interventions, the project team identified 4 intervention components (HF pain and PC education, relaxation training, COPE attitude and other coping skills, health-related communication) and spirituality and meaning making to be modified, adapted, and evaluated for inclusion in a new, lay navigator-led early palliative care pain telehealth intervention, ADAPT HF (ADdressing pain through A navigator led Palliative care opTimized for Heart Failure).

Aim 1: Using the innovative MOST framework, determine ADAPT HF components feasibility, acceptability, enrollment, retention, and completion rates in advanced HF patients (n=36) for 12 weeks. Feasibility: ≥80% of participants will adhere to and complete assigned intervention components and study-related assessments. Acceptability: Through post-intervention qualitative interviews and acceptability outcomes (acceptability of intervention measure and intervention appropriateness measure), the project team will elicit feedback on intervention components, experiences, and clinical trial procedures.

Aim 2: Explore the preliminary efficacy of ADAPT HF intervention components on outcomes at 12- and 24- weeks after baseline including a) pain interference & pain intensity (primary outcome) using PROMIS measures b) symptom burden using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and c) mood using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and d) QOL using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Scale.