Self-care in heart failure patients

descriptive cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic sample of 116 ambulatory patients undergoing heart failure treatment. Self-care was evaluated using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, (scores ≥70 points=appropriate self-care). Association tests were applied, considering a descriptive level of 0.05.

Results:

the mean age of participants was 57.7 (SD =11.3) years; 54.3% were male; the mean schooling was 5.5 (SD = 4.0) years; and 74.1% had functional class II-III. The mean scores on the subscales of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index indicated inappropriate self-care (self-care maintenance: 53.2 (SD =14.3), selfcare management: 50.0 (SD = 20.3) and self-care confidence: 52.6 (SD=22.7)) and it was found low frequencies of participants with appropriate self-care (self-care maintenance, 6.9%), self-care management (14.7%) and self-care confidence (19%). Higher scores of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index were associated with: reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.001), longer time of experience with the disease (p=0.05) and joint monitoring by physician and nurse (p=0.007).

Conclusion:

investments are needed to improve the self-care behavior and the nursing can play a relevant role in this improvement.

Descriptors:
Self-Care; Heart Failure; Nursing

Variables	Mean	Standard deviation	Minimum	Maximum	N	%
Age (years)	57.7	11.3	20	81
Education (years of study)	5.5	4.0	0	20
Time of experience with the disease (in months)	46.7	42.4	2	149
Ejection fraction (%)*	40.4	12.9	20	73
Gender Male					63	54.3
Female					53	45.7
Ethnicity White					69	59.5
Black					31	26.7
Brown					16	13.8
Marital cohabitation					70	60.3
Work situation Works					26	22.4
Unemployed					16	13.8
Retired or pensioner					61	52.6
Sick leave					13	11.2
HF functional class (New York Heart Association) I					30	25.9
II					54	46.5
III					32	27.6
Cognitive impairment					52	44.8
HF Etiology Dilated cardiomyopathy					47	40.5
Chagas cardiomyopathy					44	37.9
Ischemic cardiomyopathy					13	11.2
Cardiomyopathy to clarify					12	10.3
High level of comorbidity CCI^†					30	25.9
Type of monitoring Consultation with a physician					61	52.6
Consultation with physician and nurse					55	47.4

Variables		Self-care maintenance
Variables	Mean	Standard deviation	Median	p* Value
Gender				0.663
Male	48.0	22.1	35.0
Female	52.1	18.2	40.0
Ethnicity				0.271
White	52	20.3	50.0
Black	44.7	18.8	40.0
Brown	50.5	22.9	45.0
CCI^†				0.942
Low	46.1	21.5	50.0
Moderate	50.1	20.2	45.0
High	53.7	19.7	57.5
NYHA				0.069
I	41.2	16.2	30.0
II	45.4	21.5	37.5
III	57.2	18.1	57.5
Type of healthcare				0.098
Medical and nursing consultation	55.4	20.1	45.0
Medical consultation	45.4	19.5	35.0

Variables		Self-care maintenance
Variables	Mean	Standard deviation	Median	p* Value
Gender				0.832
Male	57.7	17.8	61.1
Female	58.7	18.8	66.7
Ethnicity				0.924
White	58.6	19.2	66.7
Black	57.7	18.5	66.7
Brown	56.9	13.0	61.2
CCI^†				0.546
Low	55.3	17.8	66.7
Moderate	59.9	17.9	66.7
High	57.0	19.2	58.4
NYHA				0.478
I	58.3	19.2	66.7
II	59.7	17.0	66.7
III	55.4	19.2	55.6
Type of healthcare				0.969
Medical and nursing consultation	58.3	16.8	61.1
Medical consultation	58.0	19.4	66.7

Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 (16) 3315-3451 / 3315-4407 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rlae@eerp.usp.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Corresponding Author: Ana Paula da Conceição Rua Dr. Maurício de Lacerda, 411, Apto. 42 Bairro: São Judas CEP: 04303-191, São Paulo, SP, Brasil E-mail: apauladaconceicao@gmail.com

Brasil

Brasil

Self-care in heart failure patients 1 1 Paper extracted from master's thesis "Sono, autocuidado e qualidade de vida de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca", presented to Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective:

Method:

Results:

Conclusion:

Self-care in heart failure patients ¹ 1 Paper extracted from master's thesis "Sono, autocuidado e qualidade de vida de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca", presented to Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.