Self-management theories, models and frameworks in patients with chronic heart failure: A scoping review

The aim of this study was to synthesize the self-management theory, model and frameworks of patients with chronic heart failure, focusing on construction process, methods and existing problems.

Although the self-management theories have been created and verified for those patients with chronic heart failure, no reviews have been performed to integrate these theories.

A scoping review of recent literature (without a date limit) was conducted.

A comprehensive literature search was performed. If the study reported the construction of a self-management theory, model or framework about chronic heart failure cases, it would be included in the review.

Fourteen studies were included, which could be categorized into situation-specific theory, middle-range theory and other theory models (including conceptual model, hypothetic regression model and identity description model). It also includes the update and validation of theories, the situation-specific theoretical of caregiver contributions extended from situation-specific theories and the nurse-led situation-specific theory in different contexts.

Self-management might contribute to start an education programme before patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) begin their chronic disease live as an individual. Our scoping review indicates that a series of self-management theories, models and frameworks for CHF patients have been developed, but more studies are still needed to validate and support these theories according to their cultural contexts.