Effects of a Transitional Care Program on Depression, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Care in Patients With Heart Failure

June 17, 2026 updated by: Hui-Shan Yeh, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Effects of a Transitional Care Program on Depression, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Care in Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of a structured transitional care program on depression, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure. Outcomes will be assessed before discharge and at 1 and 3 months after discharge.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Heart failure is a chronic condition associated with frequent hospitalizations, poor self-care behaviors, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. Patients with heart failure often experience depression and inadequate self-management after hospital discharge, which may negatively affect treatment adherence and clinical outcomes.

Transitional care programs have been developed to improve continuity of care and support patients during the transition from hospital to home. Structured transitional care interventions may enhance patients' self-efficacy and self-care abilities while reducing depressive symptoms.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of a structured transitional care program on depression, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the usual care group. The intervention group will receive a structured transitional care program in addition to usual care, whereas the control group will receive usual care only.

Outcomes including depression, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors will be measured before discharge and at 1 and 3 months after discharge using validated assessment instruments.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

130

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
    • Taoyuan City
      • Guishan, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, 33305
        • Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with a diagnosis of heart failure confirmed by a specialist physician. Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%.

Age ≥20 years. Clear consciousness and no cognitive impairment. Ability to communicate in Mandarin, Taiwanese, or Hakka. Ability to complete the questionnaire independently or with assistance from the researcher.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who are unable to be discharged during the current hospitalization. Severe consciousness impairment, cognitive impairment, or severe mental illness affecting study participation.

Patients who are illiterate or unable to express themselves verbally. Patients who are bedridden long-term or unable to perform self-care activities. Patients who refuse to participate in the study. Patients who are already enrolled in a case management program.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Transitional Care Program Group
Participants received a structured transitional care program including discharge education, telephone follow-up, and home care support for 3 months after discharge.
Behavioral: Structured Transitional Care Program
A structured transitional care program including discharge education, telephone follow-up, and home care support for 3 months after discharge.
Active Comparator: Usual Care Group
Participants received routine discharge education and standard follow-up care provided by the hospital after dischar
Other: Usual Care
Participants received standard discharge routine care provided by the hospital after discharge.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Depression Score Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time Frame: Baseline (before discharge), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge.
Depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Baseline (before discharge), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge.
Change in Self-Efficacy Score Measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES)
Time Frame: Baseline (before discharge), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge.
Self-efficacy will be assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES).
Baseline (before discharge), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge.
Change in Self-Care Behavior Score Measured by the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI)
Time Frame: Baseline (before discharge), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge.
Self-care behaviors will be assessed using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI).
Baseline (before discharge), 1 month after discharge, and 3 months after discharge.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 19, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 18, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

June 25, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 202300968B0

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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