Heart Failure Training Research Articles

Leveraging home health aides to improve outcomes in heart failure: A pilot study protocol

Heart failure (HF) affects six million people in the U.S., is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization.(1, 2) Despite a decade of innovation, the majority of interventions aimed at reducing hospitalization and readmissions in HF have not been successful.(3–7) One reason may be that most have overlooked the role of home health aides and attendants (HHAs), who are often highly involved in HF care.(8–13) Despite their contributions, studies have found that HHAs lack specific HF training and have difficulty reaching their nursing supervisors when they need urgent help with their patients. Here we describe the protocol for a pilot randomized control trial (pRCT) assessing a novel stakeholder-engaged intervention that provides HHAs with a) HF training (enhanced usual care arm) and b) HF training plus a mobile health application that allows them to chat with a nurse in real-time (intervention arm). In collaboration with the VNS Health of New York, NY, we will conduct a single-site parallel arm pRCT with 104 participants (HHAs) to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness (primary outcomes: HF knowledge; HF caregiving self-efficacy) of the intervention among HHAs caring for HF patients. We hypothesize that educating and better integrating HHAs into the care team can improve their ability to provide support for patients and outcomes for HF patients as well (exploratory outcomes include hospitalization, emergency department visits, and readmission). This study offers a novel and potentially scalable way to leverage the HHA workforce and improve the outcomes of the patients for whom they care.Clinical trial.gov registration: NCT04239911

Current and Future of Heart Failure Care in Asia.

Heart failure (HF) is a significant global health concern, particularly in Asia, where over half of the world's population resides. Despite advances in treatment, the burden of HF is expected to rise in the region due to the aging population and an increase in non-communicable diseases associated with HF risk. This narrative review examines the current state of HF in Asia, highlighting differences in treatment utilization, underrepresentation of Asian individuals in clinical trials, emerging therapies, and implementation strategies, including the potential use of polypills and the need for expanded HF training opportunities for healthcare providers.

Having a Say Matters: The Association Between Home Health Aides' Voice and Job Satisfaction.

Despite a rapidly growing need for home health aides (HHAs), turnover rates are high. While this is driven in large part by the demanding nature of their work and low wages, another factor may be that HHAs are often not considered part of the medical team which can leave them feeling unheard by other healthcare professionals. We sought to determine whether this concept, or HHAs' perceived voice, was associated with job satisfaction. This cross-sectional survey of English- and Spanish-speaking HHAs caring for adults with heart failure (HF) was conducted from June 2020 to July 2021 in New York, NY in partnership with a labor management fund of a large healthcare union that provides benefits and training to HHAs. Voice was assessed with a validated 5-item scale (total score range 5 to 25). Job Satisfaction was assessed with the 5-item Work Domain Satisfaction Scale (total score range 5 to 35). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between voice and job satisfaction. A total of 413 HHAs employed by 56 unique home care agencies completed the survey; they had a mean age of 48 years, 97.6% were female, 60.2% were Hispanic, and they worked as HHAs for a median of 10 years (IQR, 5, 17). They had a median Voice score of 18 (IQR 15-20) and mean job satisfaction score of 26.4 (SD 5.6). Higher levels of voice (1.75 [0.46-3.04]) were associated with greater job satisfaction (p=0.008). When adjusting for Race/Ethnicity, HF training, and HF knowledge, the association between Voice and job satisfaction remained significant ((1.77 [0.40-3.13]). HHAs with a voice in the care of their patients experienced greater job satisfaction. Voice may be an important target for interventions aiming to improve HHAs' retention in the field.

Identifying immune cell infiltration and diagnostic biomarkers in heart failure and osteoarthritis by bioinformatics analysis.

Heart failure (HF) and osteoarthritis (OA) are medical conditions that can significantly impact daily activities. Evidence has shown that HF and OA may share some pathogenic mechanisms. However, the underlying genomic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the underlying molecular mechanism and identify diagnostic biomarkers for HF and OA. With the cutoff criteria of fold change (FC) > 1.3 and P < .05, 920, 1500, 2195, and 2164 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in GSE57338, GSE116250, GSE114007, and GSE169077, respectively. After making the intersection of DEGs, we obtained 90 upregulated DEGs and 51 downregulated DEGs in HF datasets and 115 upregulated DEGs and 75 downregulated DEGs in OA datasets. Afterward, we conducted genome ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and hub genes screening based on DEGs. Then, 4 common DEGs (fibroblast activation protein alpha [FAP], secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4), Thy-1 cell surface antigen (THY1), matrix remodeling associated 5 [MXRA5]) between HF and OA were screened and validated in GSE5406 and GSE113825 datasets, based on which we established the support vector machine (SVM) models. The combined area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of THY1, FAP, SFRP4, and MXRA5 in the HF training and test sets reached 0.949 and 0.928. While in the OA training set and test set, the combined AUC of THY1, FAP, SFRP4, and MXRA5 reached 1 and 1, respectively. The analysis of immune cells in HF revealed high levels of dendritic cell (DC), B cells, natural killer T cell (NKT), Type 1 regulatory T cell (Tr1), cytotoxic T cell (Tc), exhausted T cell (Tex), and mucosal-associated invariant T cell (MAIT), while displaying lower levels of monocytes, macrophages, NK, CD4 + T, gamma delta T (γδ T), T helper type 1 (Th1), T helper type 2 (Th2), and effector memory T cell (Tem). Moreover, the 4 common DEGs were positively correlated with DCs and B cells and negatively correlated with γδ T. In OA patients, the abundance of monocyte, macrophage, CD4 + naïve, and natural T regulatory cell (nTreg) was higher, while the infiltration of CD8 + T, γδ T, CD8 + naïve, and MAIT was lower. The expression of THY1 and FAP was significantly correlated with macrophage, CD8 + T, nTreg, and CD8 + naïve. SFRP4 was correlated with monocyte, CD8 + T, γδ T, CD4 + naïve, nTreg, CD8 + naïve and MAIT. MXRA5 was correlated with macrophage, CD8 + T, nTreg and CD8 + naïve. FAP, THY1, MXRA5, and SFRP4 may be diagnostic biomarkers for both HF and OA, and their correlation with immune cell infiltrations suggests shared immune pathogenesis.

The Role of Exercise-based Cardiac Rehabilitation in Heart Failure

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) is a treatment modality for patients with heart failure (HF) that has withstood the test of time. It has continued to show benefits even in the current era of pharmacotherapeutics for HF. Participation in a multidisciplinary comprehensive EBCR programme reduces mortality and morbidity, has a multitude of physiological benefits, and improves cardiovascular risk factor control and quality of life. Despite this, historical barriers to enrolment and uptake remain. Strategies to overcome these, as well as alternative delivery methods of EBCR in HF patients, are emerging and include telerehabilitation, focus on special groups and emphasis on behavioural change. This review provides oversight on the modalities of exercise training in HF as well as their benefits and gives an overview of barriers to the utilisation of EBCR along with future progress in the field.

Abstract 12731: Implementation Barriers of Class 1a Heart Failure Guideline Recommendations in Developing Countries

Introduction: In April 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) released an updated guideline for the management of heart failure (HF). The degree to which these guideline recommendations can be broadly implemented in resource-limited settings, including some developing countries, has not been described. Methods: The 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA HF guidelines were reviewed and Class 1A recommendations were analyzed for potential implementation barriers in developing countries. For this analysis, Venezuela was used as a case example. Implementation barriers were analyzed on a Likert-type scale from “not a barrier” to “extreme barrier”. Among recommendations with moderate to extreme implementation barriers, potential limiting factors were specified. Results: A total of twenty-two Class 1A HF recommendations were analyzed for potential implementation barriers. Among them, 8 (36%) were classified as “not a barrier”, 3 (14%) as “somewhat of a barrier”, 5 (23%) as “moderate barrier”, and 6 (27%) as “extreme barrier”. Regarding limiting factors, 10 (50%) were related to non-availably of therapeutic drugs/interventions, 4 (20%) involved high incurring costs, and 6 (30%) were related to lack of formal training in HF and/or multidisciplinary specialized care (Figure). Conclusions: There are potential implementation barriers to Class 1A recommendations made in the 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA HF guidelines in resource limited settings, particularly in certain developing countries where availability and costs of interventions, and lack of formal HF training, represent important limiting factors. Further endeavors should encourage guideline-based recommendations to address resource-limited settings and efforts should be made to maximize implementation around the world.

Development and Piloting of a Community-Partnered Heart Failure Training Course for Home Health Care Workers.

Despite their unique contributions to heart failure (HF) care, home healthcare workers (HHWs) have unmet educational needs and many lack HF caregiving self-efficacy. To address this, we used a community-partnered approach to develop and pilot a HF training course for HHWs. We partnered with the Training and Employment Fund, a benefit fund of the largest healthcare union in the United States, to develop a 2-hour virtual HF training course that met HHWs' job-specific needs. English and Spanish-speaking HHWs interested in HF training, with access to Zoom, were eligible. We used a mixed methods design with pre/postsurveys and semi-structured interviews to evaluate the course: (a) feasibility, (b) acceptability, and (c) effectiveness (change in knowledge [Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale range 0-15] and caregiving self-efficacy [HF Caregiver Self-efficacy Scale range 0-100]). Of the 210 HHWs approached, 100 were eligible and agreed, and 70 enrolled. Of them, 53 (employed by 15 different home care agencies) participated. Posttraining data showed significant improvements (pretraining mean [SD] versus posttraining mean [SD]; P value) in HF knowledge (11.21 [1.90] versus 12.21 [1.85]; P=0.0000) and HF caregiving self-efficacy (75.21 [16.57] versus 82.29 [16.49]; P=0.0017); the greatest gains occurred among those with the lowest pre-training scores. Participants found the course engaging, technically feasible, and highly relevant to their scope of care. We developed and piloted the first HF training course for HHWs, which was feasible, acceptable, and improved their HF knowledge and caregiving self-efficacy. Our findings warrant scalability to the workforce at large with a train-the-trainer model.

Proposal for an Ambulatory Heart Failure Management Curriculum for Cardiology Residency Training Programs

BackgroundThe suboptimal implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure (HF) patients has been linked with poor clinical outcomes. Little is known about the potential role of cardiology residency training programs in improving trainees’ (ie, future cardiologists’) ability to utilize GDMT. MethodsIn this survey-based study, we examined the degree of exposure to ambulatory HF patient management among cardiology trainees in Canada. All cardiology residency program directors (n = 15; 100% response rate) completed our survey. ResultsAlthough 9 programs (60%) mandated ≥ 3 ambulatory cardiology rotations, only 3 (20%) required ≥ 2 ambulatory HF rotations. When HF rotations were provided, only 7 programs (47%) offered moderate or higher exposure to ambulatory nontransplant HF patients (defined as ≥ 5 clinics/rotations). This element was independent of program- and institution-specific characteristics. All institutions had a multidisciplinary HF clinic, and the majority (13 [87%]) had access to an inpatient HF service, a consultative HF service, and/or a specialist pharmacist. Furthermore, 13 program directors (87%) agreed on the importance of adopting HF training curriculum and their program’s readiness to implement such a module. ConclusionsThe current state of HF training among cardiology residencies is suboptimal and in need of improvement. Most programs have access to a HF clinic, a specialist pharmacist, or an inpatient consultative service, which would facilitate adoption of a HF management curriculum that focuses on practical and experiential aspects of GDMT optimization. This program, which is under development, will be offered to training programs nationwide, to enable trainees to manage this growing and increasingly complex patient population.

Better Preparation and Training Determine Home Care Workers' Self-Efficacy in Contributing to Heart Failure Self-Care.

Identify determinants of home care workers' (HCW) self-efficacy in contributing to heart failure (HF) self-care. Secondary analysis of a survey (n = 328) examining characteristics of HCWs caring for adults with HF in New York. Self-efficacy assessed using Caregiver Self-Efficacy in Contributing to Self-Care Scale. Standardized scores range 0-100; ≥ 70 points indicate adequate self-efficacy. Characteristics determined by self-efficacy (low vs. adequate). Prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (PR [95% CI]) were estimated using multivariable Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Home care workers with adequate self-efficacy had at least some prior HF training (55% vs. 17%, p < .001) and greater job satisfaction (90% vs. 77%, p = .003). Significant determinants for adequate self-efficacy were employment length (1.02 [1.00-1.03], p = .027), preparation for caregiving (3.10 [2.42-3.96], p < .001), and HF training (1.48 [1.20-1.84], p < .001). Home care agencies and policy-makers can target caregiving preparation and HF training to improve HCWs' confidence in caring for adult HF patients.

The Great Asian Mismatch: Training Versus Care in Heart Failure

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) in South-East Asia is relatively higher than in Western countries, and yet there is a lack of established fellowship programs within the region to help cultivate HF specialists. Part of this may be due to a misunderstanding that HF training and curricula require the incorporation of advanced therapies, such as ventricular assist device implantation and heart transplantation, which are rarely performed in this region. Developing a structured curriculum tailored to the needs of HF care in South-East Asia may help to provide for this subspecialty the much-needed and long-overdue recognition it deserves. Collaboration between local societies and their international counterparts is an important starting point. Customization of local and regional curricula, depending on local needs and capabilities, allows for the gap in this Great Asian Mismatch to be bridged and to ensure that equitable training is delivered for all.

Abstract 9117: Heart Failure E-learning Training for Low Income Countries is Effective and Feasible: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a burden in low income countries (LICs). However, HF care is complex and skilled providers in LICs are limited. E-learning (EL) could offer access to specialized HF training, but little is known about its feasibility in rural LICs. We describe the design and pilot study of an EL HF module. Methods: An interdisciplinary team from Partners In Health adapted an existing classroom based HF curriculum for an online, self-guided, asynchronous EL format. We emphasized design features promoting user engagement (clinical cases, animations, interactions) and functionality (download for offline viewing). Due to paucity of EL data in LICs, an introduction to Heart Failure pilot module was used to evaluate implementation.In phase 1, we evaluated usability among 7 experienced HF providers in Rwanda, Malawi, and Liberia. In phase 2, we assessed the ability of 19 novice providers in Rwanda to learn concepts using EL ( Figure 1) . Pre and posttests, post-course surveys, and semi-structured group interviews were used for evaluation. Results from phase 1 informed changes piloted in phase 2. Results: Providers from both phases improved test scores with a significant change among novices ( Figure 1 ). Figure 2 summarizes key findings identified in surveys and focus group analyses. Discussion: An EL module teaching basic HF concepts is feasible and shows early signs of effectiveness in rural LICs. EL training modules may benefit from interactive content, reliable internet, and a simple interface. EL may facilitate HF training for both novice and experienced providers through decentralized programs like the Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Plus (PEN-Plus).

Abstract 9048: Heart Failure Training Course for Home Health Aides in New York City: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study

Introduction: Although home health aides (HHAs) often care for adults with heart failure (HF), studies have found that the majority have not received HF training and lack confidence with HF caregiving. To address this, we tested the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a virtual HF training course for HHAs. Methods: We partnered with the Education Fund of the 1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East, the largest healthcare union in the US, which provides training to 55,000 HHAs in NYC. HHAs typically receive in-person training, but due to COVID-19, we conducted this course virtually. The 2-hour course, taught in English and Spanish, utilized case-based learning and motivational interviewing to engage HHAs in interactive discussions on HF signs, symptoms, and HF self-care. HHAs with access to Zoom (via smartphone, computer, or tablet) were eligible. We conducted pre/post surveys and semi-structured interviews. Measures included: a) feasibility (attendance, retention), b) acceptability (modality, technological ease, satisfaction); and c) effectiveness (change in knowledge [Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale, range 0-15] and caregiving self-efficacy [HF Caregiver Self-efficacy Scale, range 0-100]). Results: 48 HHAs employed by 15 distinct home care agencies enrolled and completed the course; course size ranged from 4-9 participants. The majority were middle-age women (60% Hispanic, 10% non-Hispanic Black). To participate, 59% used a smartphone, 32% a computer, and 10% a tablet. Compared to prior in-person courses, 83% participants reported that the course ran more smoothly and was more convenient; only 7% reported technical problems. Participants and course instructors reported high levels of satisfaction and engagement. Post-course data showed significant and clinically meaningful improvements in HF knowledge (11.21 [1.90] v. 12.21 [1.85]; p = 0.0000) and HF caregiving self-efficacy (75.21 [16.57] v. 82.29 [16.49]; p = 0.0017). Conclusions: A virtual HF training course was feasible and acceptable among HHAs and improved their HF knowledge and caregiving confidence. Efforts to scale and disseminate the course may be warranted. Future studies are needed to test the effect of the course among HHAs and their patients.

Establishing a cardiac training group for patients with heart failure: the \u201cHIP-in-W\xfcrzburg\u201d study

BackgroundExercise training in heart failure (HF) is recommended but not routinely offered, because of logistic and safety-related reasons. In 2020, the German Society for Prevention&Rehabilitation and the German Society for Cardiology requested establishing dedicated “HF training groups.” Here, we aimed to implement and evaluate the feasibility and safety of one of the first HF training groups in Germany.MethodsTwelve patients (three women) with symptomatic HF (NYHA class II/III) and an ejection fraction ≤ 45% participated and were offered weekly, physician-supervised exercise training for 1 year. Patients received a wrist-worn pedometer (M430 Polar) and underwent the following assessments at baseline and after 4, 8 and 12 months: cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-min walk test, echocardiography (blinded reading), and quality of life assessment (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, KCCQ).ResultsAll patients (median age [quartiles] 64 [49; 64] years) completed the study and participated in 76% of the offered 36 training sessions. The pedometer was worn ≥ 1000 min per day over 86% of the time. No cardiovascular events occurred during training. Across 12 months, NT-proBNP dropped from 986 pg/ml [455; 1937] to 483 pg/ml [247; 2322], and LVEF increased from 36% [29;41] to 41% [32;46]%, (p for trend = 0.01). We observed no changes in exercise capacity except for a subtle increase in peak VO2% predicted, from 66.5 [49; 77] to 67 [52; 78]; p for trend = 0.03. The physical function and social limitation domains of the KCCQ improved from 60 [54; 82] to 71 [58; 95, and from 63 [39; 83] to 78 [64; 92]; p for trend = 0.04 and = 0.01, respectively. Positive trends were further seen for the clinical and overall summary scores.ConclusionThis pilot study showed that the implementation of a supervised HF-exercise program is feasible, safe, and has the potential to improve both quality of life and surrogate markers of HF severity. This first exercise experiment should facilitate the design of risk-adopted training programs for patients with HF.

Representation of Women Physicians in Heart Failure Clinical Practice.

Women have been integral in the development of advanced heart failure (HF) and transplantation as a clinical subspecialty of cardiovascular medicine. However, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, senior academic ranks and as researchers in HF. In recent years, there have been accelerating efforts to examine sex differences in the clinical and research domains of HF. The purpose of this review is to discuss the representation of women in HF training programmes and clinical practice, the demographics of HF clinicians compared with other cardiology subspecialties, the persistent sex disparities in HF practice and research environments and potential strategies to promote equity and inclusion for women in the field.

Abstract 16628: Cognitive Dysfunction, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and Health-related Quality of Life in Heart Failure

Introduction: Cognitive dysfunction is common in heart failure (HF), but relationships are unclear among cognitive dysfunction, performance-based instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and health-related quality life (HRQL). Objectives: Guided by HRQL and IADL theories, hypotheses were: 1) worse cognitive function in global cognition, memory, executive function is associated with worse performance in IADL; 2) worse performance in IADL is associated with worse HRQL; and 3) IADL mediates the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and HRQL. Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis, baseline data were used from a randomized controlled trial of cognitive training in HF (N=256, mean age 66; 54% women; EF 49%; NYHA Class I=9%, II=36%, III=55%). Measures were: global cognition-Montreal Cognitive Assessment; memory-Hopkins Verbal Learning Test; executive function-Category fluency; IADL-Everyday Problem Test; and HRQL-Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Higher scores of cognitive and IADL measures indicate better performance. Higher scores of HRQL indicate worse HRQL. Covariates were age, gender, education, NYHA, and depressive symptoms. Multiple linear regressions were used to test hypotheses. Results: Hypothesis 1 was supported. Worse cognitive function in global cognition, memory, executive function was associated with worse IADL (β=0.38~0.45, p&lt;.001, R 2 =0.19~0.22). Age and education were significant covariates. Hypothesis 2 was supported. Worse IADL was associated with worse HRQL (β =0.79, p &lt;.001, R 2 =0.55). Gender, NYHA Class, and depressive symptoms were significant covariates. Hypothesis 3 was not tested because cognitive function was not significantly related to HRQL. Conclusions: Cognitive dysfunction was associated with worse performance in IADL. Worse performance in IADL was associated with worse HRQL. Interventions to improve HRQL may need to target improving performances in both cognitive function and IADL.

Heart Failure Training and Job Satisfaction: A Survey of Home Care Workers Caring for Adults with Heart Failure in New York City.

Home care workers (HCWs), who include home health aides and personal care attendants, frequently care for adults with heart failure (HF). Despite substantial involvement in HF care, prior qualitative studies have found that HCWs lack training and confidence, which creates challenges for this workforce and potentially for patient care. Herein, we quantified the prevalence of HF training among HCWs and determined its association with job satisfaction. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of agency-employed HCWs caring for HF patients across New York, NY from 2018-2019. HF training was assessed with, "Have you received prior HF training?" Job satisfaction was assessed with, "How satisfied are you with your job?" The association between HF training and job satisfaction was determined with robust poisson regression. 323 HCWs from 23 agencies participated; their median age was 50 years (IQR: 37,58), 94% were women, 44% were non-Hispanic Black, 23% were Hispanic, 78% completed ≥ high school education, and 72% were foreign-born. They had been caregiving for a median of 8.5 years (IQR: 4,15) and 73% had cared for 1-5 HF patients. Two-thirds received none/a little HF training and 82% felt satisfied with their job. In a fully adjusted model, HCWs with some/a lot of HF training had 14% higher job satisfaction than those with none/a little HF training (aPR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03-1.27). The majority of HCWs have not received HF training. HF training was associated with higher job satisfaction, suggesting that HF training programs may improve HCWs' experience caring for this patient population.

Eliciting the educational priorities of home care workers caring for adults with heart failure

ABSTRACT Background Although home care workers (HCWs) are increasingly caring for adults with heart failure (HF), many feel unprepared and lack HF training. To serve as the foundation for a future educational intervention, we aimed to elicit HCWs’ HF educational needs. Methods We partnered with the largest healthcare union in the US to recruit 41 HCWs employed by 17 home care agencies. Using the nominal group technique, we asked HCWs to respond to three questions: When caring for an HF patient: (1) What information do you want? (2) What symptoms worry you? (3) What situations do you struggle with? Participants ranked their responses by priority. Data were consolidated by question. Results For question 1, participants ranked HF signs and symptoms most highly, followed by HF treatment and medications. For question 2, chest pain was most worrisome, followed by neurologic changes and shortness of breath. For question 3, participants struggled with encouraging patients to follow a heart-specific diet. Conclusions HCWs expressed a need to learn more about signs and symptoms of HF and ways to assist patients with HF self-care. These findings can inform the development of an HF training program for HCWs that specifically addresses their expressed needs.

Home care workers caring for adults with heart failure need better access to training and technology: A role for implementation science.

Although highly involved in heart failure (HF) patients' care, home care workers (HCWs) lack HF training and are poorly integrated into the healthcare team. For its potential to address these challenges, we examined the role of technology among HCWs caring for HF patients. We conducted 38 interviews with key stakeholders. Overall, four themes emerged. Participants reported that technology is critical for HF care, but existing systems are outdated and ineffective. HCWs also have limited access to electronic resources. Technology, training, and principles of implementation science can be leveraged to improve HCWs' experience in caring for HF patients and home healthcare delivery.

Testing the Effect of a Home Health Heart Failure Intervention on Hospital Readmissions, Heart Failure Knowledge, Self-Care, and Quality of Life.

For older adults, heart failure (HF) has the highest 30-day hospital readmission rate of any chronic illness. Despite research into strategies to reduce readmissions, no single program has emerged as sustainable. The purpose of the current study was to test a researcher-developed home health nurse HF intervention (CareNavRN™) on 30-day readmission rates, HF knowledge, self-care, and quality of life (QOL) among 40 older adults transitioning home. Home health nurses received specialized HF training and visited patients once per week at home for 4 weeks. The control group (n = 21) had six readmissions (29%) and the intervention group (n = 19) had three readmissions (16%); however, the results were underpowered and statistically nonsignificant. Pre-/post-surveys demonstrated significant improvement in HF knowledge (p = 0.043), self-care confidence (p = 0.003), and QOL (p < 0.001) in the intervention group. CareNavRN is a promising approach to improve outcomes during transition from hospital to home for patients without access to a comprehensive disease management program. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46(2), 32-40.].

HEART-FAILURE TRAINING FOR HOME CARE WORKERS IN NEW YORK CITY

Home care workers (HCWs), which include home health aides and personal care aides, are increasingly being used by community dwelling adults with heart failure (HF) for long-term assistance and post-acute care. Findings from our prior research suggest that HCWs are deeply involved in many aspects of HF patients’ self-care, including HF maintenance and management, but the majority have not received any HF training or HF-specific resources. Due to this, many HCWs do not feel confident caring for their clients with HF. In this symposium, we will present the findings of a qualitative study that used a nominal group technique to elicit the educational needs of 40 English and Spanish speaking agency-employed HCWs caring for HF patients in New York City. We will also present an overview of the HF training course that was developed from this data and its effect on HCWs’ HF knowledge and caregiving self-efficacy.