Improving Care and Mental Well-Being for Adults With Heart Failure
Key facts
- Where
- Cornwall, Limoges, Orléans, Ottawa, and Winchester, CanadaSee the 9 sites
Where in Canada
- Seaway Valley Community Health Centre (Cardiac Rehab Program)Cornwall, CanadaTaking people
- Centre de Santé Communautaire de l'EstrieLimoges, CanadaNo longer taking part
- Orleans Cardiopulmonary ClinicOrléans, CanadaTaking people
- Bruyère Health Research InstituteOttawa, CanadaNot yet recruiting
- Byward Family Health TeamOttawa, CanadaNot yet recruiting
- Montfort Hospital, and associated Aline-Chrétien Rehabilitation ClinicOttawa, CanadaNo longer taking part
- Ste-Anne Medical ClinicOttawa, CanadaNo longer taking part
- University of Ottawa Heart InstituteOttawa, CanadaNo longer taking part
- Winchester Memorial HospitalWinchester, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Bruyère Health Research Institute.
- Trial code
- NCT07313657
- Record updated
- 17 February 2026
- Original description
Heart failure is a high-risk, chronic condition that impacts patients' mental health. Approximately 50% of heart failure patients experience comorbid mental health conditions, such as stress, depression and anxiety, which affect their day-to-day lives. Despite this interconnection, the integration of mental health awareness and support into cardiac care remains limited. To address this gap, the FRAME (Foundation, Recognition, Awareness, Management, Engagement) intervention was co-designed by researchers, healthcare providers, health system decisionmakers, and patient partners. This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of implementing the FRAME intervention in pilot clinical sites within two health regions in Ontario, Canada, including team-based family medicine clinics, cardiac rehabilitation/specialist clinics, and emergency departments. Utilizing a pretest-posttest hybrid 1 model intervention design, this study evaluates process indicators and patient-focused outcomes through surveys and semi-structured qualitative interviews. Findings from this study will inform a future large scale cohort study and scalable integration of the FRAME tool into existing cardiac care pathways to enhance mental health awareness and support among heart failure patients.Read full original descriptionShow less
Integrating Mental Health Into Heart Failure Care: A Hybrid Type 1 Pretest-Posttest Feasibility Study of the FRAME Intervention
Heart failure is a high-risk, chronic condition that impacts patients' mental health. Approximately 50% of heart failure patients experience comorbid mental health conditions, such as stress, depression and anxiety, which affect their day-to-day lives. Despite this interconnection, the integration of mental health awareness and support into cardiac care remains limited. To address this gap, the FRAME (Foundation, Recognition, Awareness, Management, Engagement) intervention was co-designed by researchers, healthcare providers, health system decisionmakers, and patient partners. This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of implementing the FRAME intervention in pilot clinical sites within two health regions in Ontario, Canada, including team-based family medicine clinics, cardiac rehabilitation/specialist clinics, and emergency departments. Utilizing a pretest-posttest hybrid 1 model intervention design, this study evaluates process indicators and patient-focused outcomes through surveys and semi-structured qualitative interviews. Findings from this study will inform a future large scale cohort study and scalable integration of the FRAME tool into existing cardiac care pathways to enhance mental health awareness and support among heart failure patients.
Inclusion: For Patients (Surveys and Optional Interviews):; Patients at risk of heart failure (e.g., irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease, a past heart attack, high blood pressure that is being treated, cardiomyopathy), or with a self-reported/documented diagnosis of heart failure OR on the following list of medications :; Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI), called sacubitril-valsartan; Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), called "prils"; Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), called "sartans"; Beta-blockers, called "lols"; Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs); Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, called "flozins"; Receiving care at one of the participating pilot test sites or if they found their way to the tool website; Willing and able to provide informed consent and name, email address and phone number for follow-up contact (for survey and interview); Caregivers (Optional interviews):; Caregivers who support adult(s) with heart failure.
Exclusion: Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., due to cognitive impairment or language barriers without translated support); Providers that are not involved in the care of heart failure patients; Participants who do not have access to the internet will not be able to use the web-tool; For Healthcare Providers.