Self-care behaviors in patients after heart valve surgery

Self-care behaviors have important role in follow-up and treatment of chronic diseases. The high prevalence and chronic nature of heart valve diseases, show the necessity of self-care in these patients. Therefore, this study aimed to review the self-care in patients after heart valve surgery.

This is a review article based on collecting data from electronic sources and published research, data base sources are SID, Google Scholar, Elsevier, PubMed, that are published from 2010-2015. 

Results

Self-care includes activities that people have done for health promotion, prevention of disease, limiting illness and keeping their health. Studies show that after heart valve surgery, complications relate to physical, mental, social and economic will emerge.  Overall, the evidence shows that the self-care level of these patients is not desirable.

Discussion and Conclusion

This study shows that, despite the importance and serious role of self-care in patient after heart valve surgery, these patients have not desirable level of self-care and in this regard, new strategies are needed to solve the problems and nurses can have a key role in this strategies.