Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of ICF-based family empowerment program on the patients’ function status and prognosis and the care burden of primary caregivers in home care of patients with heart failure. Methods From November 2018 to July 2019, we selected 104 patients with heart failure and their main caregivers as subjects by convenience sampling. All of the subjects were divided into control group and experimental group with the method of random number table. Patients in the control group carried out routine nursing. On the basis of control group, experimental group applied family empowerment program based on ICF. Dutch Objective Burden Inventory was used to assess caregivers' burden. The readmission rate and all-cause mortality were compared between the two groups one and three months after discharge. Results Finally, a total of 48 cases were included in experimental group and 45 included in control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the ICF assessment function grades before and one month after discharge (P>0.05). After three months, mineral, water and electrolyte balance function, emotional function, sleep function, readmission rate and all-cause mortality were statistically significant between the two groups. The main caregivers burden score of each dimension in the two groups at discharge were of no statistical difference (P>0.05). One month later, the difference in dimension of personal care was statistically significant (P＜0.01), and three months later, except for the incentive support dimension, the differences in the other dimensions were all statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions Appling the family empowerment scheme based on ICF in the home care for heart failure can not only improve patients' functional status and disease prognosis, but also reducing the burden of disease care for primary caregivers, which is beneficial to both patients and their families.

Key words: international classification of functioning, disability and health, family empowerment, heart failure, care burden