What does the study involve?

Am I eligible?

  • Are you currently in a romantic relationship?
  • Have you been in this relationship for at least 1-year?
  • Have you or your partner been hospitalized for a cardiac-related event or procedure in the past 6 months?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, you may be eligible to participate.

What is involved in the study?

If you are eligible to participate in the study, you will be asked to attend a “baseline” assessment with your partner at the UOHI. We will ask both partners to complete some questionnaires before this appointment. The questionnaires can be done online or on paper. The baseline appointment will take about two hours and can be broken up into two appointments if needed. At this appointment, we will take some basic health measures (height, weight).

You and your partner will also participate in a discussion, during which you have a conversation about things you may disagree about at times. While you talk, we measure blood pressure, heart rate variability and collect saliva samples.

After this assessment, you will be randomized into the Healing Hearts Together group or the “Usual Care” group. Usual care means that you will receive the standard care as you normally would at UOHI. Regardless of the group that you are in, we will ask you to come back to repeat the assessment two and six months later. Your parking costs will be covered for each visit.  

We have been randomized to the Healing Hearts Together group. What does that mean?

If you are randomized to the Healing Hearts Together group, you and your partner will be asked to attend 8 weekly 2-hour sessions. The group sessions will take place via videoconferencing or at the UOHI. We will be offering sessions during the day or in the evenings, depending on participants’ availability.

We have been randomized to the “Usual Care” group. What does that mean?

In the “Usual Care” group, you will proceed with your cardiac care as normal (e.g., following up with your cardiologist or cardiac rehabilitation). We will still ask you to come back to repeat the assessment 2 and 6 months later.

If you have any questions about the study or would like to sign up to participate, please contact the research coordinator at (613) 696-7000 x 15406 or couples@ottawaheart.ca.