An Intervention for Cardiac Arrest Survivors With Chronic Fatigue (CAF)

University of Pittsburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Heart Arrest; Fatigue; Cardiac Arrest

Treatments: Other: Energy Conservation+Problem Solving Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02864719

PRO09110375

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim was to examine the feasibility of an Energy Conservation + Problem Solving Therapy (EC+PST) intervention delivered over the telephone and to evaluate the preliminary intervention effect on fatigue impact in daily activities in post-cardiac arrest (CA) adults with chronic fatigue.

Full description

The primary aim was to examine the feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants for an Energy Conservation + Problem Solving Therapy (EC+PST) intervention delivered over the telephone, to evaluate the acceptability of the intervention, and to assess the appropriateness of the outcome measures. The secondary aim was to evaluate the preliminary intervention effect on fatigue impact, activity performance, and participation in daily activities in post-cardiac arrest (CA) adults with chronic fatigue.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 3 months post-cardiac arrest
• Presence of moderate-to-severe fatigue: ≥ 4 score on the Fatigue Severity Scale
• Availability of landline telephone or cell phone
• Living within 150 miles of the University of Pittsburgh, Oakland
• Functional English fluency and literacy
• Intact cognition
• Community living

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 1 patient group

Energy Conservation+Problem Solving Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention was delivered by telephone. Each EC+PST intervention session was planned to last approximately 45 minutes and occur twice a week for up to 4 weeks. Sessions terminated when the participants identified and solved two fatigue-related problems of their choice or had participated in the intervention for eight sessions. A Participant Workbook was used throughout the intervention. During eight intervention sessions, participants identified two fatigue-related problems and solutions for them, implemented the solution plans, and reviewed the implementations.

Treatment:

Other: Energy Conservation+Problem Solving Therapy