Observational StudyPromoting Well-being and Health in Heart Failure

Participants will receive a 12-week, Positive Psychology-Motivational Interviewing (PP-MI) intervention. Each week, participants will complete a PP activity and work towards one or more health behavior goals, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. Each weekly session will include PP and goal setting portions. In the PP portion, a study trainer will (a) review the week's PP exercise, (b) discuss the rationale of the next week's PP exercise through a guided review of the PP-MI manual, and (c) assign the next week's PP exercise. Additionally for the goal-setting portion, the trainer will (a) review their goals and health behaviors from the prior week, (b) discuss techniques for improving health behavior adherence (e.g., monitoring physical activity, reading nutrition labels), and (c) set goals for the next week. Finally, participants will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 12 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 13-24).

This condition will mirror the MI component of the PP-MI intervention. During the first three sessions, participants will learn about the causes and types of HF, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and methods for monitoring risk factors and symptoms. Then participants will complete nine sessions related to physical activity, a low sodium diet, and medication adherence. Weekly tasks (e.g., brainstorming barriers) will be assigned, completed between calls, and reviewed at the following call. Finally, participants will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 12 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 13-24).

The 12-week PP-MI intervention focuses on enhancing well-being (through PP) and promoting adherence to physical activity, diet, and medications (through MI). Each week, participants will complete a PP activity and work towards one or more health behavior goals, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. The PP portion of the program will focus on the cultivation of well-being through the performance of easy-to complete activities (e.g., using a strength in a new way) and review of the positive feelings they generate. The MI portion of the program will focus on assisting participants to monitor health behavior adherence, resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic health behavior goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 24 weeks) to encourage completion of PP activities and engagement in health behaviors.

The time- and attention-matched MI-alone intervention focuses on providing education about heart failure (HF) and promoting adherence to physical activity, diet, and medications. Each week, participants will independently complete an activity related to HF education or adherence to a health behavior, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. HF educational topics will include the causes and types of HF, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, methods for monitoring risk factors and symptoms, and the importance of adherence to physical activity, diet, and medications. For each health behavior, study trainers will assist participants to monitor adherence, identify realistic behavior goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 24 weeks) that provide education and encourage engagement in health behaviors.