Teaching Heart Failure Self-Care to Patients in Rwanda
Tests an education program on self-care for people with heart failure in Rwanda.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Heart Failure Self Care Education in Rwanda
Key facts
- Where
- Kigali, RwandaSee the site
Where in Rwanda
- District Hospitals Butaro, Kirehe, and RwinkwavuKigali, RwandaNo longer taking part
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
- Boston Medical Center
- Trial code
- NCT07722468
- Record updated
- 30 September 2026
- Original description
In Rwanda, patients with heart failure may have low health education about their condition. Heart failure care requires active patient involvement. Self-care of heart failure requires healthy lifestyle, attention to symptoms, proper action when new symptoms develop. However, many patients may choose to stop taking medications when they are feeling well, or disregard new symptoms when they develop and delaying care until their condition is more severe. Educating patients in self-care for heart failure can be achieved by clinical staff with the support of patient handbooks or flip books. Self-care education materials have been developed by the research team in Haiti and have been adapted for Rwanda.Read full original descriptionShow less
Heart Failure Self Care Education in Rwanda
In Rwanda, patients with heart failure may have low health education about their condition. Heart failure care requires active patient involvement. Self-care of heart failure requires healthy lifestyle, attention to symptoms, proper action when new symptoms develop. However, many patients may choose to stop taking medications when they are feeling well, or disregard new symptoms when they develop and delaying care until their condition is more severe. Educating patients in self-care for heart failure can be achieved by clinical staff with the support of patient handbooks or flip books. Self-care education materials have been developed by the research team in Haiti and have been adapted for Rwanda.
This study will use a cluster, stepped wedge design. Patients are already in clusters based on their health facility. The order of implementation will be randomized by the cluster. The primary outcome is heart failure knowledge assessed pre- and post-intervention through a structured survey.
Inclusion: Participants living with heart failure followed at non-communicable disease clinics across three district hospitals (DHs) i- Butaro, Kirehe, and Rwinkwavu; Able to provide informed consent; for minors, able to provide assent with parent or caregiver consent; Pediatric participants must be aged ≥10 years; consent will be obtained from a parent or caregiver, with age-appropriate assent from the child.
Exclusion: Unable to provide informed consent.