Development of a model to support terminally ill heart failure patients with ventricular assist devices at home and their caregivers.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19104
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58060:Clinical nursing-related
• Research Institution: Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Nagano Kayo 沖縄県立看護大学, 看護学部, 研究員 (90709510)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 在宅看護 / 人工臓器 / 補助人工心臓 / 介護者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A questionnaire survey was conducted to healthcare professionals who actually support Destination Therapy (DT) patients and their caregivers who continue home treatment with a ventricular assist device (VAD) until the end of life to relieve symptoms of severe heart failure without looking at a heart transplant. The results of the survey showed that DT patients and caregivers are very sensitive to the presence of VADs. The results of the survey indicated that the respondents were paying attention to mental health support for DT patients and their Caregivers, and that the construction of a home support system requires strengthening shared care, such as holding regular conferences between the hospital and home, and sharing information in a timely manner. Furthermore, the need for caregiver support and the issue of cooperation with nursing homes were also recognized as a challenge in long-term home treatment.

Free Research Field

成人看護、在宅看護

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、重症心不全患者の治療戦略として心臓移植を見据えられない患者に対する、補助人工心臓（以下、VAD）の在宅治療について、医療従事者はどのように支援し、展開していくかを検討することを目的とした。すでにDestination therapy（以下、DT）として在宅におけるVAD使用の経験の深い米国とは、生活・文化的背景が違う我が国において、VAD患者や介護者はどのような経験をし、支援している医療従事者は何を重要な支援だと感じているかなどを明らかにすることは、保険償還が始まったばかりの我が国において重要な指標になると考える。