Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Feb;39(2):181-191.
doi: 10.1177/0733464817746757. Epub 2018 Jan 18.

An Intervention to Improve Physical Function and Caregiver Perceptions in Family Caregivers of Persons With Heart Failure

Rebecca Gary  1 , Sandra B Dunbar  1 , Melinda Higgins  1 , Brittany Butts  2 , Elizabeth Corwin  1 , Kenneth Hepburn  1 , Javed Butler  3 , Andrew H Miller  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

An Intervention to Improve Physical Function and Caregiver Perceptions in Family Caregivers of Persons With Heart Failure

Rebecca Gary et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2020 Feb.

Erratum in

  • Corrigendum.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Appl Gerontol. 2020 Feb;39(2):NP1. doi: 10.1177/0733464818775576. Epub 2018 Apr 30. J Appl Gerontol. 2020. PMID: 29708007

Abstract

Objective: This randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine whether a 12-week home-based aerobic and resistance exercise program would improve physical function and caregiving perceptions among family caregivers (FCGs) of persons with heart failure. Method: Overall, 127 FCGs were randomized to one of three groups: usual care attention control (UCAC), psychoeducation only (PE), and psychoeducation plus exercise (PE + EX). Physical function measures (6-min walk test, handgrip, and upper and lower strength) and caregiving perceptions (Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale) were obtained at baseline and at 6 months. Results: FCGs in the PE + EX showed significant improvement in 6-min walk distance (p = .012), handgrip, and lower extremity strength compared with the PE and UCAC groups. The combined group had the greatest improvement in caregiver perceptions (p < .001). Conclusion: FCGs in the PE + EX group improved the most in physical function and caregiver perception outcomes. Directions for future research are provided.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01188070.

Keywords: exercise; family caregivers; heart failure.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Diagram
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (9th edition) Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014.
    1. Adelman RD, Tmanova LL, Delgado D, Dion S, Lachs MS. Caregiver burden: a clinical review. JAMA. 2014;311(10):1052–60. PMID:24618967. - PubMed
    1. Alley DE, Shardell MD, Peters KW, McLean RR, Dam TT, Kenny AM, Cawthon PM. Grip strength cutpoints for the identification of clinically relevant weakness. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014;69(5):559–566. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glu011. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ashworth NL, Chad KE, Harrison EL, Reeder BA, Marshall SC. Home versus center based physical activity programs in older adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(1):CD004017. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ashburner JM, Cauley JA, Cawthon P, Ensrud KE, Hochberg MC, Fredman L. Self-ratings of health and change in walking speed over 2 years: results from the caregiver-study of osteoporotic fractures. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;173(8):882–889. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data