Objective: To determine the influence of socio-demographic characteristics in the self-care of people with heart failure (HF). Method: Cross-sectional, analytical study, held in three private hospitals in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, with 57 hospitalized patients. The data were collected through a demographic characterization form and a self-care assessment scale and were analyzed with inferential statistics, using mean comparison tests. Results: Self-care was best assessed in people with higher education level, higher household income and in a relationship. Conclusion: The socio-demographic characteristics influenced seven self-care practices: dietary control; monitoring of body weight; effort in labor activities; knowledge about HF; up-to-date vaccination record; leisure activities; and family and social support network with strong bonds. The higher prevalence of answers indicating satisfactory self-care practices among the patients occurred in the areas of health promotion and tolerance to stress.

The objective was to evaluate the practice of self-care of patients with mechanical heart valve prosthesis. A descriptive, cross-sectional study developed in two outpatient valvopathies of teaching hospitals of Fortaleza/CE, from October 2013 to January 2014. The sample consisted of 127 patients with mechanical heart valve prosthesis. It was held an interview using instrument based on the Theory of Orem's Self-Care and Brazilian Guidelines for Valvular Heart Diseases. The data were presented in tables and charts. Results: Universal self-care practices of larger adhesion: body hygiene (97.6% washed-haired, daily-bath 92.1%); oral hygiene (brushing teeth before sleeping, 87.4%); fluid intake (drinking-water 95.2%); food intake (salt intake ≤ 2 g/day, 92.1%, fruit and vegetable consumption 79.5%); intestinal eliminations (without blood or mucus-96%, non-parasitic 94.4%); urinary elimination (no blood nor pus-96.8%, urination 4 to 6 times a day, 96%). As self-care developmental requirements predominated: never used illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or stopped at the discovery of the disease (70%). As self-care health deviation requirements we have: making use of certain medication at the right dose (95.2%); attending medical appointments (cardiologist-92.1%; nursing-84.2%); INR control (identifies signs of bleeding-85.8%). We conclude that patients did not perform all recommended self-care practices, being necessary to establish strategies to reduce the self-care deficit. L. S. T. de Meneses et al.1388

Objetivou-se identificar as práticas de autocuidado de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca nas publicações científicas. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura que utilizou os descritores controlados autocuidado e insuficiência cardíaca e suas traduções em inglês e espanhol nas seguintes bases de dados: Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane e Lilacs. Foram selecionados 14 artigos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Como resultados, foram constatadas 17 práticas de autocuidado que devem ser realizadas por pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca, predominando restrição salina (9), pesagem diária (8), restrição hídrica (7), monitorização e reconhecimento de sintomas (6), exercício físico (5) e seguimento da terapia medicamentosa (5). Conclui-se que a prática do autocuidado contempla a adesão a um estilo de vida saudável, mas com recomendações e restrições específicas para o paciente com insuficiência cardíaca, variando conforme a classe funcional da doença.Termos de indexação: Autocuidado. Exercício. Insuficiência cardíaca. Literatura de revisão como assunto.

This study aimed to identify the conditioning factors to self-care practice of ostomy patients, and verify knowledge and practices on stoma care. Descriptive and qualitative study, referencing the Orem’s Self-Care Theory, carried out at the Ostomy Association of Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, in June and July 2007. We identified as the main conditioning factors for self-care: male, aged over 51 years, low education, from the capital city/metropolitan area, married, and with low family income. From the participants’ statements, emerged three categories: Learning to take care of stoma: education-support system; Stoma Care: knowledge and practices; and Difficulties found in the practice of self-care. It was concluded that ostomy patients require a multidimensional and individualized nursing care, which enables them to perform self-care effectively.