How do SYMPtoms and management tasks in chronic heart failure imPACT a person's life (SYMPACT)? Protocol for a mixed‐methods study

Abstract

Abstract Aims Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) struggle to follow self‐care plans, which may lead to worsening illness and poor quality of life. Burden of treatment (BoT) describes this workload and its impact on patients' lives. Suggesting the balance between a patient's treatment workload and their capability to manage it is crucial. If BoT is reduced, self‐care engagement and quality of life may improve. This article describes the SYMPACT study design and methods used to explore how symptoms and management tasks impact CHF patients' lives. Methods and results We used a sequential exploratory mixed‐methods design to investigate the interaction between symptoms and BoT in CHF patients. Conclusions If symptoms and BoT are intrinsically linked, then the high level of symptoms experienced by CHF patients may lead to increased treatment burden, which likely decreases patients' engagement with self‐care plans. SYMPACT may identify modifiable factors to improve CHF patients' experience.

Keywords

• Chronic heart failure
• Burden of treatment
• Symptom burden
• Self‐care
• Mixed methods
• Study design