Giving voice to patients' and family caregivers' needs in chronic heart failure: implications for palliative care programs.

Background: The American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure recommend palliative care in the context of Stage D HF or at the end of life. Previous studies related to heart failure (HF) palliative care provide useful information about patients' experiences, but they do not provide concrete guidance for what palliative care needs are most important and how a palliative care program should be structured.

Objectives: Describe HF patients' and their family caregivers' major concerns and needs.