Self-care-associated needs in inpatients with heart failure: a descriptive, cross-sectional pilot study

Interventions to promote heart failure self-care may be tailored to self-care needs, which are as yet unknown for patients with heart failure in Austria.

To describe the self-care needs of Austrian inpatients with heart failure and to examine the relationship of self-care with health-related quality of life, age, and living arrangement.

This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted at a university hospital. A convenience sample of thirty adult inpatients (53.3% female, mean age = 76.13 year) was included, who (2) were previously diagnosed with Heart Failure, (3) were able to speak and read in German language, and (4) gave informed consent. Otherwise eligible patients were excluded if they (1) were diagnosed with a mental disorder (ICD-10-Codes F00-F99), (2) showed signs of disorientation, (3) were living in a nursing facility, (4) suffered from immediately life-threatening or end-stage terminal illness. Self-care needs were assessed with the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-23). Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

Overall self-care was reported as adequate (Mean = 74.26). Inadequate self-care was reported in 7 out of 9 self-care behaviours. Self-Care was adequate in fluid Intake (Median = 1.0) and medication adherence (Median = 1.0). Participants had a poor to fair health-related quality of life (Median = 36.85) and clinical condition (Median = 43.22). The sample was highly socially limited (Median = 21.87) but had a fair to good self-efficacy (Median = 62.50). Self-Care did not correlate with age, health-related quality, and living arrangements.

Self-care needs were identified in all self-care dimensions. Symptom perception, self-care management as well as patients' clinical condition and social limitations should be considered in Self-Care interventions. Health-related quality of life, age, and living arrangement were not identified as self-care needs.