A pilot study of the WE BEAT Well-Being Education Programme to build resilience in adolescents with heart disease.

OBJECTIVE(S): To examine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a novel group-based telemedicine psychoeducation programme aimed at supporting psychological well-being among adolescents with Fontan-palliated CHD.

STUDY

DESIGN

A 5-week telemedicine psychoeducation group-based programme (WE BEAT) was developed for adolescents (N = 20; 13-18 years) with Fontan-palliated CHD aimed at improving resiliency and psychological well-being. Outcome measures included surveys of resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), benefit finding (Benefit/Burden Scale for Children), depression, anxiety, peer relationships, and life satisfaction (National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scales). Within-subject changes in these outcomes were compared pre- to post-intervention using Cohen's d effect size. In addition, acceptability in the form of satisfaction measures and qualitative feedback was assessed.

RESULTS

Among eligible patients reached, 68% expressed interest in study participation. Of those consented, 77% have been scheduled for a group programme to date with 87% programme completion. Twenty adolescents (mean age 16.1 ± SD 1.6 years) participated across five WE BEAT group cohorts (range: 3-6 participants per group). The majority (80%) attended 4-5 sessions in the 5-session programme, and the median programme rating was a 9 out of 10 (10 = most favourable rating). Following WE BEAT participation, resiliency (d = 0.44) and perceptions of purpose in life increased (d = 0.26), while depressive symptoms reduced (d = 0.36). No other changes in assessed outcome measures were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide preliminary support that a group-based, telemedicine delivered psychoeducation programme to support psychological well-being among adolescents with CHD is feasible, acceptable, and effective. Future directions include examining intervention effects across diverse centres, populations, and implementation methods.