Pharmacist-Led Management for Heart Failure

(PHARM-HF-2 Trial)

Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Stanford University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores improving heart failure care by involving pharmacists in medication management. Researchers aim to determine if education and feedback (E+F) for pharmacists can enhance their role in heart failure treatment compared to education alone. The trial also examines whether prompting primary care doctors to refer patients to pharmacists boosts pharmacist involvement. Pharmacists working in specific VA regions are ideal candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative approaches in heart failure care.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that education and feedback (E+F) programs for heart failure are safe and well-liked by patients. These programs help patients understand their condition and manage it effectively without risk. For instance, learning about heart failure correlates with better health outcomes and timely medication adherence.

Regarding primary care referral nudges, research indicates they are also safe. These nudges gently remind healthcare providers to offer more proactive care, such as prescribing necessary medications. Studies have found these nudges can improve care quality without negative effects.

Both methods aim to enhance heart failure management through education and gentle reminders, and current evidence supports their safety for patients.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to manage heart failure through pharmacist-led interventions. Unlike traditional heart failure treatments that focus on medications or lifestyle changes, this trial investigates how education and feedback, with or without primary care referral nudges, can enhance patient care. The unique aspect is the involvement of pharmacists in guiding and educating patients, potentially leading to more personalized and effective management of their condition. This could provide new insights into improving patient outcomes by optimizing the way healthcare professionals support heart failure patients.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for heart failure?

This trial will compare different pharmacist-led management strategies for heart failure. Participants in one arm will receive Education Only, which research has shown can significantly improve health by helping patients manage their heart failure better, leading to fewer hospital visits and a lower risk of complications. Another arm will involve Education and Feedback (E+F) without Primary Care Referral Nudges, which has enhanced patient knowledge and self-care skills. The third arm will include Education and Feedback (E+F) with Primary Care Referral Nudges. Research indicates that these nudges can effectively enhance heart failure care by increasing the number of appropriate referrals to specialized care, thereby improving patient outcomes. In summary, this trial will evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in improving heart failure management and patient health.15678

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

* Primary care pharmacist within one of three VA regions (6, 10, and 19)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Education Only

All sites receive education on heart failure management

2 months
Monthly educational sessions

Education and Feedback

Sites transition to receiving audit and feedback along with education

10 months
Monthly audit and feedback sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Education and Feedback (E+F)
  • Education Only
  • Primary Care Referral Nudges

How Is the Trial Designed?

3

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Education and Feedback (E+F) without Primary Care Referral NudgesExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Education and Feedback (E+F) with Primary Care Referral NudgesExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Group III: Education OnlyActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
2,527
Recruited
17,430,000+

Citations

Improving therapeutic outcomes in heart failure with reduced ...

Heart failure education intervention demonstrates effectiveness in improving the therapeutic outcomes for HF patients and reduced nonvalvular ejection fraction.

Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention With Home Visits ...

Educational interventions extending beyond the hospitalization period contribute to sustained improvements in patient‐reported outcomes. 1.

A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Video vs Text- ...

This study compares the change in heart failure (HF) knowledge and participant preference between video-based and text-based HF education modules.

Patient Education and Self-Management for Heart Failure

[7,8,9,10] Overall, patient education is pivotal for improving health outcomes and reducing HF-associated mortality and hospitalization risk. 3.

Empowering heart failure patients: The role of education in ...

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse- led living with heart failure education (LHFE) program on self- care behaviors and ...

Health Literacy in Heart Failure: A Review of the Gaps ... - PMC

We defined literacy-associated outcomes as HF knowledge, self-care, medication adherence, or motivation or empowerment. We considered these ...

Effects of education based on teach-back methods on self ...

Effectiveness of nurse-led heart failure self-care education on health outcomes of heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis ...

Heart Failure Educational and Follow up Platform

In this platform they could find the E CRF of their patients and the patient 's quiz result in order to help him to analyse patient comprehension of HF and ...