Adapting an evidence-based, home cardiac rehabilitation programme for people with heart failure and their caregivers to the Danish context: DK:REACH-HF study

Eghøj, M., Zinckernagel, L., Brinks, T. S., Kristensen, A. L.S., Hviid, S. S., Tolstrup, J. S., Dalal, H. M., Taylor, R. S. and Zwisler, A.-D. O. (2024) Adapting an evidence-based, home cardiac rehabilitation programme for people with heart failure and their caregivers to the Danish context: DK:REACH-HF study. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, (doi: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvae037) (PMID:38526240) (Accepted for Publication)

Abstract

Aims Adapting interventions with an existing evidence base offers a more efficient approach than development of a new intervention. The aim of this study was to describe the process of adapting a home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme (REACH-HF) intervention originally developed in the United Kingdom for people with heart failure (HF) to the Danish health system - the ‘DK:REACH-HF’ programme. Methods and Results We followed methodological framework for the conduct and reporting of studies adapting interventions, utilizing documentary analysis, qualitative interviews, stakeholder consultations, and mapping of the Danish policy context. Our study found broad support for the REACH-HF intervention as an alternative to existing centre-based CR. We also identified three key areas of adaptation for the Danish context. First, reduce the word-count of the intervention’s resources by linking to existing publicly available CR materials. Second, whilst retaining REACH-HF core components, adapt its content and delivery to reflect differences between Denmark and United Kingdom. Thirdly, to develop a digital version of the intervention. Conclusion Using an evidence-based approach, we successfully adapted the REACH-HF intervention to the context of the Danish healthcare setting, maintaining core components of the original intervention, and developing both a paper based and digital version of the programme material. To inform scaled national implementation of the DK:REACH-HF programme, we seek to undertake a pilot study to test the adapted intervention materials feasibility and acceptability to healthcare practitioners, patients, and their caregivers and confirm the positive impact on the outcomes of HF patients and caregivers.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work is supported by TrygFonden [152500], The Danish Heart Foundation [20-R145-A9654-22157], and the Karen Elise Jensens Foundation.
• Keywords: Adaptation, cardiac rehabilitation, heart failure, evidence-based interventions, complex interventions.
• Status: Accepted for Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Taylor, Professor Rod
• Authors: Eghøj, M., Zinckernagel, L., Brinks, T. S., Kristensen, A. L.S., Hviid, S. S., Tolstrup, J. S., Dalal, H. M., Taylor, R. S., and Zwisler, A.-D. O.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 1474-5151
• ISSN (Online): 1873-1953
• Published Online: 25 March 2024