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Self-care-associated needs in inpatients with heart failure: a descriptive, cross-sectional pilot study
Matthias Hutter1,2, Roland Eßl-Maurer1,2, Manela Glarcher1
1Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Contemporary Nurse
|August 25, 2025
Summary
Austrian heart failure patients need better self-care support, particularly in symptom perception and management. Interventions should address these needs, as quality of life and social factors were not identified as self-care needs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nursing
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart failure self-care interventions require tailoring to patient needs.
- Self-care needs for Austrian heart failure patients are currently unknown.
- Understanding these needs is crucial for effective patient support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the self-care needs of inpatients with heart failure in Austria.
- To explore the relationship between self-care and quality of life, age, and living situation.
- To inform the development of targeted heart failure self-care interventions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional pilot study involving 30 adult heart failure inpatients at a university hospital.
- Utilized the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-23).
- Data analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, excluding patients with mental disorders or severe illnesses.
Main Results:
- Overall self-care was reported as adequate, but 7 out of 9 specific self-care behaviors were inadequate.
- Adequate self-care was noted for fluid intake and medication adherence.
- Patients reported poor to fair quality of life and clinical condition, with significant social limitations but fair to good self-efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Identified self-care needs across all dimensions, emphasizing symptom perception and management.
- Recommended that interventions consider patients' clinical condition and social limitations.
- Found no correlation between self-care and health-related quality of life, age, or living arrangements.
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