Effects of Family Sodium Watcher Program on Outcomes in Heart Failure Patient-Family Caregiver Dyads

The Family Sodium Watcher Program (Family SWaP) proposed in this study incorporates the use of a unique electronic salt monitoring device that easily measures salt content in food-the major source of sodium. The intervention is designed to improve adherence to a sodium restricted diet by both patients and family caregivers through education and strategies for gradual taste adaptation to low salt foods. The Family SWaP intervention (6 weekly 45-minute sessions followed by 5 bi-weekly booster sessions) will be delivered remotely using a video-conferencing program on an iPad tablet.

The usual care group will receive their routine medical and nursing care for heart failure that consists of a recommendation to follow a sodium restricted diet without explicit skills training to do so.