In a clinical trial, researchers explored whether a telecare intervention involving nurses and social workers could enhance the quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure (HF), and interstitial lung disease (ILD). These conditions often lead to poor quality of life despite conventional treatments, prompting the need for palliative care approaches to improve patient well-being.
Clinical Trial
The trial involved 306 participants with COPD, HF, or ILD who were at high risk of hospitalization or death and reported poor quality of life. The participants were randomly assigned to either receive the telecare intervention or usual care. The telecare intervention consisted of 6 phone calls with a nurse to manage symptoms and 6 phone calls with a social worker to provide psychosocial support. The intervention team collaborated closely with primary care and palliative care physicians, and as needed, with specialists like pulmonologists and cardiologists. Usual care involved receiving an educational handout on self-care for their condition and accessing care from their healthcare providers as usual.
Results
At the end of 6 months, participants who received the telecare intervention showed significant improvements in their quality of life compared to those who received usual care. The improvement was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–General (FACT-G) scale, with a difference of 4.6 points between the two groups. This improvement was considered clinically meaningful, indicating a tangible enhancement in how participants felt about their overall well-being.
Moreover, participants in the telecare group also experienced better disease-specific health status for COPD and HF, as well as reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. These findings suggest that the telecare intervention not only addressed the physical symptoms but also contributed to the emotional and psychological well-being of the participants.