Relationship between Multi-Dimensional Factors and Self Care Behaviors among Patients with Heart Failure

Abstract

Background: Heart Failure is a chronic, longstanding disease associated with high morbidity, mortality, and increased health care cost. Self care activities have been illustrated to improve quality of care of heart failure and disease outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between multidimensional factors (knowledge, cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression, social support, quality of life) and self care behaviors among patients with heart failure. Study design: A descriptive co-relational research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: This study was conducted in the heart department at Ain Shams University hospital. Subjects: Purposeful sample of (60) adult patients with heart failure were selected to included in this study. Tools of Data collection: (1) Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics assessment tool. (2) The dutch heart failure knowledge scale. (3) Mini-mental state examination scale. (4) Patient health questionnaire-4. (5) The social support instrument. (6) The Kansas City cardiomyopathy questionnaire. (7) The self-care heart failure index. Results: This study revealed that 78.3% of patients with heart failure had unsatisfactory level of knowledge, 33.3% have cognitive impairment, 40% suffered from moderate level of anxiety and depression, 80% got high social support from their families, and 70% had fair quality of life. Moreover, it was illustrated that there was a correlation between the self-care behaviors and knowledge, cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression, social support, and quality of life among patients with heart failure where p value <0.05. Conclusion: Several factors are positively/negatively correlates with self care behaviors among patients with heart failure such as the knowledge of patients, cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression, level of social support, and quality of life. Recommendations: Ongoing assessment of factors that may impedes self care behaviors among patients with heart failure can help health care professionals in providing disease management based on individual needs.