Improving Symptoms and Quality of Life in Chronic Heart Failure: Pilot Study

A palliative symptom management and psychosocial care intervention named Collaborative Care to Alleviate Symptoms and Adjust to Illness (CASA) that includes (a) evidence-based palliative symptom management of breathlessness, fatigue, and pain, provided by a nurse; (b) a 6-session structured psychosocial care protocol targeting depression and adjustment to illness, supplemented by informal (family) caregiver assessment and support, provided by a social worker or psychologist; and (c) brief weekly team meetings with the nurse, social worker/psychologist and a palliative care specialist, cardiologist, and primary care provider.

A psychospiritual intervention that is home-based, self-guided, and requires minimal resources. It will be delivered in written modular form via US Mail along with brief weekly telephone support.