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The Level of Self-Care among Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Piotr Pobrotyn1, Grzegorz Mazur2, Marta Kałużna-Oleksy3
1Department information, Clinical University Hospital, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
Insights
Engaging patients in self-care management for chronic heart failure (HF) is crucial. Male patients and those with higher NYHA classes showed lower self-care behavior scores, indicating areas for targeted intervention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Patient Self-Care Management
- Chronic Disease Management
Background:
- Effective long-term heart failure (HF) management emphasizes patient self-care behaviors.
- Active patient engagement in self-care can reduce hospital readmissions and unscheduled medical visits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate self-care behavior in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).
- To identify predictors of self-care behavior in HF patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 403 patients with chronic HF.
- Utilized medical record analysis and a self-report questionnaire.
- Assessed self-care behavior using the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale (EHFScBS-9).
Main Results:
- The mean EHFScBS-9 score was 49.55 (SD = 22.07).
- Univariate analysis identified male sex, recent hospitalizations, and NYHA classes II and IV as negative predictors of self-care.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed male sex as a significant negative predictor (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Patients with chronic HF demonstrate near-optimal self-care behavior outcomes.
- Enhanced patient engagement in self-care is linked to reduced hospitalizations and improved quality of life.
Introduction:
In a long-term approach to the treatment of heart failure, importance is given to the process of self-care management and behaviors. The number of rehospitalizations and unscheduled medical visits can be reduced by actively engaging patients in the self-care process.
Methods:
The study included 403 patients with chronic heart failure (mean LVEF 40.53%), hospitalized in the Cardiology Department. Medical record analysis and a self-report questionnaire were used to obtain basic sociodemographic and clinical data. The European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale, revised into a nine-item scale (EHFScBS-9), was used to evaluate self-care behavior.
Results:
Analysis of the EHFSc-9 self-care behavior scale showed that the mean score was 49.55 out of 100 possible points (SD = 22.07). Univariate analysis revealed that significant (p < 0.05) negative predictors of the EHFScB-9 self-care scale included: male sex (b = -5146), hospitalizations in the last year (b = -5488), NYHA class II (b = -11,797) and NYHA IV class (b = -15,196). The multivariate linear regression model showed that a significant (p ˂ 0.05) negative predictor of the EHFScB-9 self-care scale was male sex (b = -5.575).
Conclusions:
Patients with chronic HF achieve near optimal self-care behavior outcomes. A patient prepared to engage with self-care will have fewer rehospitalizations and a better quality of life.
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