Factors Associated with Changes in Health Perception in Patients with Heart Failure

Abstract

Determination of modifiable factors associated with changes in health perception can be beneficial for improvement in health perception and health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine if changes in physical symptoms, functional status, and depressive symptoms were associated with changes in health perception at three months and the mediator effect of physical symptoms. Data were collected at baseline and three months later (N = 65). Process Macro for SPSS was used to analyze the data. Only changes in depressive symptoms (p < .001) were associated with changes in physical symptoms. Then, only changes in physical symptoms (p = .026) were significantly associated with changes in health perception. Changes in physical symptoms played significant roles in changes in health perception directly and also through the mediator role. Clinicians and researchers need to assess and manage these two modifiable factors to improve health perception in this population.

Correlation between symptom status, health perception, and spiritual well‐being in heart failure patients: A structural equation modeling approach

“…Heo et al. (2021) also highlighted that the functional status had no mediation effect on the relationship between symptoms and overall health perception (Heo et al., 2021). In contrast to these findings, Beverly et al.…”

“…This suggests that other variables may be involved in this process. Heo et al ( 2021) also highlighted that the functional status had no mediation effect on the relationship between symptoms and overall health perception (Heo et al, 2021). In contrast to these findings, Beverly et al (2013) found that physical and social function status mediated the effects of shortness of breath and fatigue symptoms on overall health perception in HF patients, and physical symptoms had no significant direct effects on overall health perception in their model (Beverly et al, 2013).…”

“…Our analysis revealed that the participants had moderate health perceptions. Similarly, a literature review reported that individuals with HF perceived their health status as moderate or poor compared with those with COPD and diabetes mellitus (Creber et al, 2013;Heo et al, 2021). Moreover, health perception is a modifiable factor that directly affects HRQOL and is considerably poorer owing to HF symptoms and deteriorated functional status in patients with HF, which causes repeated hospitalizations and higher mortality (Creber et al, 2013;Guillemin et al, 2017;Heo et al, 2021).…”

“…General health perception, which is the last determinant of this conceptual model is a genuine indicator enabling individuals to self‐evaluate the bio‐physiological aspects of their health, perceived well‐being, physical, mental, and social functionality, pain conditions, and disease outcomes (Guillemin et al., 2017; Salman & Lee, 2019). Previous studies have demonstrated that consistently determining perceived health may predict mortality, physical disability, symptom burden, worsening health, and hospital utilization better than objective clinical information or clinician ratings (Creber et al., 2013; Heo et al., 2021). The characteristics of the individual, including sociodemographic, developmental, psychological, and biological factors, may also affect HRQOL outcomes (Lee & Song, 2015).…”

Relationships between Depressive Symptoms, Appetite, and Quality of Life in Heart Failure

“…The depressive symptoms could have contributed to worsening QoL in our patients by impacting on their physical symptoms, such as difficulty walking, difficulty climbing stairs, and fatigue. In fact, Heo et al (2021) have previously shown that physical symptoms are mediators of the relationship between depressive symptoms and patients’ self-perceived health status.…”