Patients' Experiences of Person-centred Integrated Heart Failure Care and Palliative Care at Home: an Interview Study

Objectives: Patients with severe heart failure (HF) suffer from a high symptom burden and high mortality. European and Swedish guidelines for HF care recommend palliative care for these patients. Different models for integrated palliative care and HF care have been described in the literature. No studies were found that qualitatively evaluated these models. The purpose of this study is to describe patients' experiences of a new model of person-centred integrated HF and palliative care at home.

Method: Interviews were conducted with 12 patients with severe HF (New York Heart Association class IIIâ€"IV) and included in the research project of Palliative advanced home caRE and heart FailurE caRe (PREFER). Qualitative content analysis was used for data analysis.

Results: Two themes and a total of five categories were identified. The first theme was with the categories: and . The second theme was , with the following two categories: and CONCLUSIONS: Person-centred integrated HF and palliative care provides a secure environment and holistic care for patients with severe HF. This approach is a way to improve the care management in this population.

Trial Registration Number: NCT01304381; Results.