Evaluation of an educational programme for family members of patients living with heart failure: a randomised controlled trial

Aims and objectives. To evaluate the effect of a group‐based multi‐professional educational programme for family members of patients with chronic heart failure with regard to quality of life, depression and anxiety. The secondary aim was to investigate the impact of social support and sense of coherence on changes in quality of life, anxiety and depression during the period of the study. Background. When a person is diagnosed with heart failure, the daily life of the family members is also affected. Design. Randomised controlled trial. Methods. A total of 128 family members were randomly assigned to participate in a multi‐professional educational programme or a control group. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. Results. There were no significant differences in anxiety, depression or quality of life between the intervention group and control group. Adequacy of social network was the only independent variable that explained levels of anxiety and depression after 12 months beyond baseline levels of anxiety (p