Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index version 7.2

It is more important for patients with heart failure (HF) to objectively identify their self-care status. The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) version 7.2 is a reliable and valid instrument comprising three scales: self-care maintenance, symptom perception, and self-care management. We aimed to translate the SCHFI v.7.2 into Japanese and test its validity and reliability.

This was a cross-sectional study. Two translators performed forward and backward translations between English and Japanese. To assess structural validity, confirmatory factor analyses were performed using the structure of the original version. To assess convergent validity, the associations between each scale and self-care self-efficacy were evaluated. To assess internal consistency, model-based internal consistency coefficients were calculated. Participants were 314 Japanese outpatients with HF (mean age: 72.8 ± 12.8 years). Regarding structural validity, all scales showed adequate model fit indices, supporting a two-factor structure with items similar to those in the original version. However, to improve the model fit indices, it was necessary to add error correlations for the self-care maintenance and symptom perception scales. Regarding convergent validity, all scales showed significant associations with self-care self-efficacy. Regarding internal consistency, the model-based internal consistency coefficients were sufficient for all scales (0.739, 0.908, and 0.783 for the self-care maintenance, symptom perception, and self-care management scales, respectively).

The Japanese version of the SCHFI v.7.2 had adequate validity and reliability. This instrument is useful for assessing self-care in Japanese HF patients. However, factors influencing self-care should be considered when interpreting results.