Evaluation of self-care behaviors and intrinsic dignity and its relationship with some factors in the elderly with chronic heart failure referred to cardiac clinics affiliated to Golestan University of Medical Sciences in 2019

Chronic diseases increase significantly with age. Therefore, self-care activities can lead the elderly to maintain health and increase dignity. The aim of this study was to determine self-care behaviors and intrinsic dignity and its relationship with some demographic and clinical factors in the elderly with chronic heart failure.

 This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 109 elderly patients with chronic heart failure referred to heart clinics of Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected in the form of demographic and clinical factors, standard questionnaires of intrinsic dignity and self-care behavior. Data were analyzed by SPSS - 18 and statistical tests of mean, standard deviation, independent t - test, Mann - Whitney, one - way variance and Kruskal - Wallis at a significance level of 0.05.

The mean score of self-care behaviors was 22.4±2.52 (from 12-60) and inherent dignity was 121.44±9.89 (from 24-144) Education level had a significant difference with both self-care and dignity behaviors (P = 0.030), (P = 0.040), while ethnicity (P = 0.001), employment status (P = 0.020), Type of insurance (P = 0.009) showed only statistically significant difference with dignity. The among of clinical factors, only body mass index showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.020), However, clinical factors did not differ significantly with self-care behaviors.

In the present study, the score of self-care behavior and intrinsic dignity was at the desired level. Also, demographic factors showed more correlation with self-care behavior and innate dignity than clinical variables.