Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Author Spotlight: Workflow for Integrating POCUS Data into EHR for Managing Heart Failure Patients
Published on: July 12, 2024
[Heart failure in primary care: Attitudes, knowledge and self-care]
Cristina Salvadó-Hernández1, Pilar Cosculluela-Torres2, Carmen Blanes-Monllor2
1ABS Viladecans 1, SAP Delta de Llobregat, DAP Costa de Ponent, Institut Català de la Salut, Viladecans, Barcelona, España; Grupo de investigación MACAP (Malaltia Cardiovascular en Atenció Primària), Costa de Ponent Institut Català de la Salut - Institut d'Investigació en Atenció Primària (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Barcelona, España.
Insights
Patients with heart failure (HF) showed moderate self-care practices. Improving patient knowledge is key to enhancing self-care behaviors in primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition requiring significant patient self-management.
- Primary care settings play a crucial role in managing HF patients.
- Understanding patient self-care is vital for improving health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess attitudes, knowledge, and self-care practices in primary care patients with heart failure (HF).
- To identify factors associated with improved self-care behaviors in this population.
Main Methods:
- A multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 295 HF patients in Primary Health Care Centres.
- Utilized validated scales to measure self-care, self-efficacy, knowledge, autonomy, and mental health.
- Employed a multivariate mixed model to analyze associations with self-care.
Main Results:
- Mean self-care score was moderate, with 25% of patients scoring below 21.
- Higher patient knowledge was significantly associated with better self-care practices (coefficient: -1.37).
- Coronary heart disease diagnosis was also linked to better self-care (coefficient: -2.41).
Conclusions:
- Heart failure patient self-care in primary care is moderate.
- Strategies to enhance self-care should focus on improving patient knowledge.
- Interventions must be tailored to the specific characteristics of HF patients in primary care.
Objective:
To determine the attitudes, knowledge, and self-care practices in patients with heart failure (HF) in Primary Care, as well as to identify factors associated with better self-care.
Design:
Cross-sectional and multicentre study.
Setting:
Primary Care.
Participants:
Subjects over 18 years old with HF diagnosis, attended in 10 Primary Health Care Centres in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.
Main Measurements:
Self-care was measured using the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, tests on attitudes (Self-efficacy Managing Chronic Disease Scale), knowledge (Patient Knowledge Questionnaire), level of autonomy (Barthel), and anxiety and depression screening (Goldberg Test), were also gathered in an interview. A multivariate mixed model stratified by centre was used to analyse the adjusted association of covariates with self-care.
Results:
A total of 295 subjects (77.6%) agreed to participate, with a mean age of 75.6 years (SD: 11), 56.6% women, and 62% with no primary education. The mean self-care score was 28.65 (SD: 8.22), with 25% of patients scoring lower than 21 points. In the final stratified multivariate model (n=282; R2 conditional=0.3382), better self-care was associated with higher knowledge (coefficient, 95% confidence interval: -1.37; -1.85 to -0.90), and coronary heart disease diagnosis (-2.41; -4.36: -0.46).
Conclusion:
Self-care was moderate. The correlation of better self-care with higher knowledge highlights the opportunity to implement strategies to improve self-care, which should consider the characteristics of heart failure patients attended in Primary Care.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
01:28Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
01:20Angina V: Nursing Management
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...