Aim: To describe the levels and identify independent predictors of caregiver burden in partners of patients with heart failure.

Background: Care and support from a partner are important for the well-being of patients with heart failure and may potentially delay disease progression. However, caregiving may be associated with burden and stress and it is therefore important to understand which factors that influence caregiver burden. Theoretical models of caregiving describe the concept of burden as an outcome variable, including decreased well-being and health.

Methods: Data for this descriptive cross sectional study were collected between January 2005 and September 2008. The dependent variable consisted of the Caregiver Burden Scale total score index. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, health-related quality of life, symptoms of depression, perceived control, and knowledge on heart failure were included in a regression analysis to determine independent predictors of caregiver burden.

Results: The 135 partners had a mean-age of 69 years and 75% were females. Caregiver burden was perceived as medium in 30% of the partners. The patients’ Physical component score of SF-36 (p< 0.001), partners’ Mental component score of SF-36 (p< 0.001) and perceived control (p<0.01) accounted for 39% of the variance in caregiver burden.

Conclusion: Caregiver burden was lower when the mental health of the partner and the physical health of the patient were better and the partner experienced higher control over the heart disease. A partner-centered approach to educate and support partners of patients with heart failure is essential to improve the life situation for patient-partner dyads.

Background: Patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and their partners face many challenges associated with heart disease. High social support in a close relationship has been found to improve survival in patients with HF. However, caring for a patient with HF may have negative effects on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the partner responsible for the care. The main focus in health care is still on improving the patients’ HRQOL, but the awareness of partners’ and families’ role and situation is increasing. Therefore further studies are needed to clarify these issues and the importance of partners in relation to HRQOL of patients with HF.

Objectives: To describe and compare HRQOL, quality-adjusted life year (QALY) weights, symptoms of depression, perceived control and knowledge in patients with chronic HF and their partners and to compare HRQOL and QALY weights in the partners with an age- and gender-matched group.

Methods: Data was collected from 135 patient-partner dyads at two Swedish hospitals. Data on the reference group was collected from the same region.

Results: Patients had lower HRQOL in all dimensions (p < 0.001) except in the mental health domain and lower QALY weights compared to their partners (p < 0.001). Mental health scores were lower in partners compared to the age and gender-matched references (p < 0.001). All other HRQOL scores and the QALY weights were comparable between partners and reference group. Patients had more depressive symptoms than their partners (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the level of perceived control or knowledge about chronic HF between patients and partners.

Conclusion: Being a partner to a patient with chronic HF markedly affects the mental aspect of HRQOL. Interventions focusing on education and psychosocial support may potentially promote effective coping in partners and enhance their ability to support the patient.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery places extensive stress on spouses who often are more worried than the patients themselves. Spouses can experience difficult and demanding situations when the partner becomes critically ill.

OBJECTIVES: To identify, describe, and conceptualize the individual needs of spouses of patients with complications of heart failure after cardiac surgery.

METHODS: Grounded theory using a mix of systematic coding, data analysis, and theoretical sampling was performed. Spouses, 10 women and 3 men between 39 and 85 years, were interviewed.

RESULTS: During analysis, the core category of confirmation was identified as describing the individual needs of the spouses. The core category theoretically binds together three underlying subcategories: security, rest for mind and body, and inner strength. Confirmation facilitated acceptance and improvement of mental and physical health among spouses.

CONCLUSIONS: By identifying spouses needs for security, rest for mind and body, and inner strength, health care professionals can confirm these needs throughout the caring process, from the critical care period and throughout rehabilitation at home. Interventions to confirm spouses needs are important because they are vital to the patients recovery.

Background: Chronic heart failure (HF) may cause great suffering for both patients and their partners. High marital quality with sufficient emotional support has been found to influence long-term survival in patients with chronic HF. However, emotional reactions of burden, stress and depression have been found to be associated with the partner’s new role. Psychosocial support, and patients-partner education is usually not included in standard chronic HF care despite recommendations in international guidelines.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of an integrated dyad care programme with education and psychosocial support to patients with chronic HF and their partners during a post-discharge period of 3 months after acute deterioration of chronic HF.

Methods: A randomised, controlled design with a follow up assessment after 3 months was used. The dyads in the control group received care as usual. The experimental group participated in an integrated care intervention, delivered in three modules through nurse-led face-to-face counselling, a computer-based CD-ROM program and other written teaching materials.

Results: The intervention improved perceived control (P<0.05) in patients, but not in the partners. There were no other significant differences between the groups with regard to the dyads’ health related quality of life and depressive symptoms, patients’ self-care behaviour and partners’ experiences of caregiver burden.

Conclusion: This is the first major randomised study evaluating a programme focusing on the development of problem solving skills to assist the dyads in managing heart failure. The intervention significantly improved the level of perceived control in the patient group.