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Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure

Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure is a nursing research record that should be interpreted using the available source metadata.

By the NurseTrainer Evidence Studio

National Institute on Aging Published 2026 2 min read
United Statespublic_metadataVery High authorityNursing InformaticsResearch Funding

In brief

Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure is a nursing research record that should be interpreted using the available source metadata.

What this article is about

Quick Answer

Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure is a nursing research record that should be interpreted using the available source metadata.

Student takeaways

Key Takeaways

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Student summary

Why This Research Matters

This article describes a research project aimed at developing and testing a digital health program to help older family care partners (FCPs) of patients with heart failure increase their physical activity. Family care partners are people like spouses, adult children, or other relatives who provide unpaid caregiving for someone else in the home. This is especially important because these caregivers often face significant stress and health challenges themselves due to their demanding role.

The main problem this research addresses is that older FCPs (those aged 65+) are particularly vulnerable. They tend to have more physical limitations, experience higher levels of psychological distress like anxiety or depression, and may lack the social support needed to maintain good health compared to younger caregivers. Physical activity has been shown in many studies to improve both physical function and mental well-being, but getting older FCPs to engage in regular exercise can be difficult due to their caregiving responsibilities which often keep them at home.

The proposed solution is a technology-based program called TPA4You (Tailored Physical Activity for You). This would likely involve digital tools such as apps on smartphones or tablets. The idea is that these technologies could help older FCPs find time and motivation to be more active, even while managing their caregiving duties.

The research project has several specific steps: 1. **Developing the Intervention (Year 1):** First, researchers will talk with older HF-FCPs in one-on-one interviews to understand what features they would want in a digital physical activity program. This is called scenario-based design and helps make sure the final product meets their actual needs. 2. **Field Testing (Year 2):** Once an initial version of TPA4You is created, it will be tested with more FCPs to see how easy it is to use and whether they find it acceptable or enjoyable. This feedback will help improve the program before a larger study. 3. **Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Years 3-5):** The main test of TPA4You involves randomly assigning older HF-FCPs to either receive the new digital health program for 12 weeks, or an attention control group that receives standard care without the new intervention. This helps researchers determine if the program is feasible and effective in improving physical activity levels, physical function, psychological well-being (like reducing anxiety or depression), and overall quality of life.

The ultimate goal of this project is to create a practical and helpful tool for older family caregivers who are struggling with their own health due to their caregiving role. By making it easier for them to be more active, the program aims to improve both their physical abilities and mental outlook.

Source abstract

Study Overview

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT My career goal is to establish an independent aging research program focused on designing and evaluating high quality, technology-based behavioral health interventions to improve self-management and quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling older adults, particularly older family care partners (FCPs). More than 17 million FCPs, including family, friends, and relatives, provide care for older adults with chronic illness in the US. High caregiving burden places FCPs at risk for physical function decline, psychological distress, and poor health status. Specifically, older FCPs are more vulnerable than younger FCPs because of greater physical and psychological burden, more age-related health care needs, and less emotional and social support. Physical activity (PA) has the potential to promote the health and well-being of older FCPs. Because caregiving duties limit FCPs to the home and preclude face-to-face interactions (more so during the COVID-19 pandemic), using digital health technologies is an effective way to engage older FCPs in home-based PA interventions. However, there is a gap in research for digital health PA interventions targeting older FCPs; I intend to fill this gap. This K23 award will provide me with the protected time to acquire advanced skills and knowledge in (1) design and implementation of clinical trials in older adults, (2) physical activity behavior change, (3) expansion of health informatics, and (4) professional development for a successful independent research career. The research environment at the University of Colorado, the interdisciplinary mentorship team I have assembled, and support from the College of Nursing provide an exceptional training opportunity. The overall objective of the proposed study is to rigorously design and test a tailored PA coaching program using digital health technologies, TPA4You, and conduct a pilot RCT to assess feasibility of TPA4You and its effects on health outcomes among older FCPs. Older FCPs of patients with heart failure (HF-FCPs) will be the focus of this study because HF-FCPs are an understudied population that is vulnerable to their own health-related issues. The specific aims of this proposal are to: (1) develop the TPA4You intervention by evaluating its technology features (n=15; Year 1), (2) conduct field-testing of TPA4You to optimize usability and acceptability (n=20; Year 2), and (3) conduct a pilot RCT to assess feasibility and preliminary effects of the TPA4You intervention (n=62; Years 3-5). For Aim 1, using scenario-based design methods, we will elicit HF-FCPs' perceptions about the integrated technology components in one-on-one interviews. For Aim 2, we will iteratively enhance TPA4You to meet HF-FCPs' PA needs and optimize usability and acceptability. For Aim 3, older HF-FCPs will be randomized to receive the TPA4You program or attention control for 12 weeks. This proposed study's novel TPA4You program has the potential to increase PA, and improve physical function, psychological outcomes, and QoL among older HF-FCPs. This proposal will provide the foundation for an R01 efficacy study of the TPA4You program in a larger, more diverse population of older HF-FCPs.

Study type: Funded research project

Evidence appraisal

Main Findings

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Practice transfer

Clinical Relevance

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Faculty notes

Educational Relevance

Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure can be used for source-grounded discussion. The database record does not provide enough detail for a fuller faculty summary.

Critical appraisal

Limitations

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Classroom use

Discussion Questions

  • Discussion question 1: What does "Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure" help nursing students evaluate?
  • Discussion question 2: What does "Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure" help nursing students evaluate?
  • Discussion question 3: What does "Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure" help nursing students evaluate?
  • Discussion question 4: What does "Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure" help nursing students evaluate?
  • Discussion question 5: What does "Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure" help nursing students evaluate?
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  • Discussion question 10: What does "Digital Health Physical Activity Program for Older Family Care Partners of Patients with Heart Failure" help nursing students evaluate?

Search-ready answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary goal of the research project described in this metadata?

The primary career goal outlined in the abstract is to establish an independent aging research program focused on designing and evaluating technology-based behavioral health interventions for older adults, specifically targeting family care partners (FCPs) with chronic illness.

Who are 'family care partners' as defined by this project's context?

Family care partners (FCPs), including family, friends, and relatives, provide care for older adults with chronic illness in the US. The research focuses on older FCPs who are particularly vulnerable due to greater physical/psychological burden, age-related health needs, and less support.

What is the main intervention being developed by this study?

The study aims to develop and test a tailored Physical Activity (PA) coaching program using digital health technologies called 'TPA4You' for older family care partners of patients with heart failure.

Why are older FCPs, specifically those caring for individuals with heart failure, the focus of this research?

Older FCPs are chosen because they face a high caregiving burden that places them at risk for physical function decline and psychological distress. They are also more vulnerable than younger FCPs due to greater age-related health care needs and less support. HF-FCPs are an understudied, vulnerable population.

What is the overarching objective of this K23 award-funded study?

The overall objective is to rigorously design and test a tailored PA coaching program using digital health technologies (TPA4You) and conduct a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to assess its feasibility and preliminary effects on health outcomes among older FCPs.

What are the three specific aims of this research proposal?

The specific aims are: 1) Develop the TPA4You intervention by evaluating technology features with HF-FCPs. 2) Conduct field-testing of TPA4You to optimize usability and acceptability. 3) Conduct a pilot RCT (n=62 over Years 3-5) comparing TPA4You against an attention control group for 12 weeks.

What potential benefits does the 'TPA4You' program aim to achieve?

The novel TPA4You program has the potential to increase physical activity, and improve physical function, psychological outcomes (such as reducing distress), and quality of life among older HF-FCPs.

How is this research project funded and what type of study is it?

This is a 'Funded Research Project' supported by an NIH grant (5K23AG073471-05) from the National Institute on Aging. It's described as a K23 award, which typically supports mentored career development for new investigators.

What are some of the key keywords associated with this research project?

Key keywords include 'nursing informatics,' 'funded research,' 'nursing workforce,' 'mental health,' 'nursing research,' 'nursing students,' 'evidence based nursing,' and 'clinical evidence'.

What is the source of the information provided in this metadata?

The primary source for this metadata is NIH RePORTER, specifically project details from https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11384135. The record has a high authority level and open access status as 'public_metadata'.