A randomized controlled trial evaluating a theory driven, complex intervention centered on task sharing and mobile health to improve selfcare and outcomes in heart failure - The PANACEA-HF RCT: Design and rationale

Background: We developed a three-pronged complex intervention to improve selfcare and deliver whole person care for patients with heart failure, underpinned by the 'extant cycle' theory - a theory based on our formative work.Methods: This is a 3 centre, 2-arm, 1:1, open, adaptive stratified, randomized controlled trial. We included patients aged >= 18 years with heart failure, taking any of the key guideline directed medical treatments, with a history of or currently on a high ceiling diuretic. We excluded end stage renal disease, clinically diagnosed severe mental illness or cognitive dysfunction and having no caregivers. Interventions included, (i) trained hospital based lay health worker mediated assessment of patients' current selfcare behaviour, documenting barriers and facilitators and implementing a plan to 'transition' the patient toward optimal selfcare. (ii) m-health mediated remote monitoring and (iii) dose optimization through a 'physician supervisor'.Results: We recruited 301 patients between Jan 2021 and Jan 2022. Mean age was 59.8 (+/- 11.7) years, with 195 (64.8 %) from rural or semi-urban areas and 67.1 % having intermediate to low health literacy. 190 (63.1 %) had an underlying ischemic cardiomyopathy. In the intervention arm, 142 (94.1 %) had a Selfcare in Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) score of <= 70, with significant barriers being 'lack of knowledge' 105 (34.5 %) and 'behavioural passivity' 23 (7.5 %). Conclusion: This is the first South Asian trial evaluating a complex intervention underpinned by behaviour change theory for whole person heart failure care. These learnings can be applied to heart failure patient care in other resource constrained health systems.