TeleHealth IN Knowsley for Heart Failure – THINK-HF study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of the effectiveness of telehealth system for management of heart failure patients in the community: A pilot feasibility study. TeleHealth IN Knowsley for Heart Failure – the THINK-HF study
IRAS ID
123256
Contact name
K Dickman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
In Knowsley, death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is worse than the average for England, primarily due to poor lifestyle behaviours associated with the high level of social deprivation. Many cardiac conditions culminate with heart failure, a condition that is characterised by a major reduction in physiological and psychological wellbeing and leading to hospital admissions. Heart failure places a huge burden to the NHS in both financial and service capacity terms. Knowsley PCT have commissioned services to manage the care of these patients in the community with a view to reducing the need for hospital readmissions. However, the provision of support relies on the individual patients contacting their community support team when and if they feel there is need.
“Telehealth’ monitoring devices allow patients to interact directly with the community support team without the need for home visits; facilitating early identification and intervention through interpretation of physiological data and symptom reporting. The telehealth system is coupled with educational and motivational tools that allow patients to understand their condition better, and then develop the ability to self-care to enhance their quality of life.
We plan to conduct a pilot randomised trial with 60 patients, all newly diagnosed with heart failure. Patients will be randomised into either care as usual plus telehealth (intervention group) or care as usual (control). Patients in intervention group will be required to complete daily activities and both groups will have access to the usual care, education and support of the heart failure team.
After 6 months evaluations will be made with regards to the impact telehealth had on self care behaviours, hospital admissions, length of stay and the impact on the primary care providers; guiding future consideration of long term provision of telehealth within the heart failure population of Knowsley.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0450
Date of REC Opinion
19 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion