Feasibility and acceptability of using a patient-reported outcome measure (OxFAB) to improve recognition and communication of worsening heart failure symptoms in the UK patient care pathway

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: Patients with heart failure have difficulty in monitoring and managing symptoms, such as fatigue and breathlessness. The authors previously co-created a validated tool (OxFAB) with service users to optimise symptom communication. Aim: To test the feasibility and acceptability of using the OxFAB to enhance symptom communication between patients with heart failure and specialist nurses. Methods: A multi-method feasibility study design to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of OxFAB. Findings: Quantitative data on patient recruitment rates ( n =68 were eligible, n =35 completed the study) and OxFAB completion rates were promising. Thirty-one participants were interviewed. Three categories identified ‘Practicalities of completing OxFAB’, ‘OxFAB as an educational tool to support self-assessment of heart failure symptoms’ and ‘OxFAB as a communication tool’. Conclusions: Using OxFAB in heart failure services is feasible and acceptable to patients. Its use individualised consultations and appears to have improved patients' understanding of the significance of their symptoms.