Self-care behaviors and its related factors in patients with heart failure

Self-care could prevent frequent admission and promote health in patients with heart failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-care and its related factors in patients with heart failure.
In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients with heart failure who were referred to teaching hospitals in Qom, Iran were selected through convenience sampling. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Self-care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) and the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFSCBS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and multiple regression analysis.
The mean age of patients was 55.13 ± 13.76 years and 59% were men. More than half of the patients had moderate self-care status. The highest and lowest self-care scores were related to self-confidence in self-care with mean and standard deviation of 58.82 ± 17.47 and self-care management with mean and standard deviation of 53.94 ± 15.41. The results of regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the variables studied, duration of illness and discharge fraction with self-care (P The findings showed that self-care status of patients with heart failure was moderate. The focus and attention in nursing care and medical care, in order to improve and promote the self-care status, especially management of self-care in these patients, seems necessary. Further studies on the barriers and facilitators of self-care behaviors are recommended.