The association between physical symptoms and self-care behaviours in heart failure patients with inadequate self-care behaviours: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Patients with heart failure frequently report inadequate self-care behaviours. Physical symptoms can impact patients’ ability to perform self-care behaviours. However, studies investigating the association between physical symptoms and heart failure self-care behaviours have produced inconsistent findings, potentially due to variations in the determinants of self-care behaviours among patients with differing levels of self-care proficiency. Understanding the association between physical symptoms and self-care behaviours in heart failure patients with inadequate self-care behaviours could improve care for this subpopulation. The study aimed to explore the association between physical symptoms and self-care behaviours in Chinese heart failure patients with inadequate self-care behaviours. Methods This analysis was based on primary data from a cross-sectional study that aimed to investigate factors associated with self-care in heart failure patients. Physical symptoms were measured using the Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale. Self-care behaviours (i.e., self-care maintenance and management) of heart failure were measured using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (version 6.2). Patients who reported scores < 70 on both self-care maintenance and management behaviours were eligible and included in the analysis. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to explore the association between physical symptoms and self-care behaviours. Results A total of 189 patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 65 years and a median duration of living with heart failure of 24 months. Most participants were classified as New York Heart Association class III or IV. Dyspnoea symptoms were the most frequently reported physical symptoms. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that the severity of physical symptoms was positively associated with self-care management behaviours (β = 0.157, 95% CI: 0.010, 0.368, p = 0.039) but not significantly associated with self-care maintenance behaviours (β = -0.133, 95% CI: -0.316, 0.026, p = 0.097). Conclusions Based on the data collected in Changsha, China, we found that patients with HF with poor self-care experienced more dyspnoea symptoms. Severe HF physical symptoms might serve as drivers for better self-care management in patients with inadequate self-care behaviours. Effective care and support should be provided when physical symptoms worsen to facilitate patients’ engagement in self-care behaviour in this subpopulation.

Self Care Behavior among Patients with Heart Failure in Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung Indonesia

“…The European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association stress the value of self-care practices and self-management abilities to supplement medicines and enhance heart failure patients' symptoms and prognosis (Liu et al, 2023). Self-care management is a predictor of well-being.…”

“…Adherence to medication guidelines, a low-salt diet, quitting smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, daily body weight monitoring, and HF compensation are all part of self-care maintenance. According to this viewpoint, self-care refers to a patient's decision-making process for selecting actions that preserve physiological stability as well as their reaction to symptoms when they manifest (Liu et al, 2023). Nurses must understand self-care principles to lower hospital return rates, enhance patients' well-being, and boost patient happiness (Bit-Lian, Woei-Ling, & Yuen-Leng 2020).…”

“…Nurses must understand self-care principles to lower hospital return rates, enhance patients' well-being, and boost patient happiness (Bit-Lian, Woei-Ling, & Yuen-Leng 2020). Interventions could include elements that promote empowerment (such as teaching situational and tactical skills to integrate self-care into a lifestyle), plan strategies for new habits using the identified self-regulation techniques and use tracking systems to improve the sustainability of the new lifestyle (Liu et al, 2023). A previous study also advised the subsequent researcher to create nursing treatments that can enhance or promote self-care in HF patients.…”

Predictive Analytics with a Transdisciplinary Framework in Promoting Patient-Centric Care of Polychronic Conditions: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions

“…Patient-centered care is characterized by several important principles: (1) problem identification [14] before alleviating the problem, (2) targeting high-risk patients for care management interventions [15], (3) designing and implementing patient-centered care modalities [4,6], and (4) conducting a patient outcome-based evaluation guided by the logic model [9,16]. It is important to note that patient-centered care is characterized by important principles such as respect for a patient's preference or choice, the provision of coordinated and integrated care, encouragement in shared information and decisionmaking, presence of personal comfort and emotional support, family involvement and support groups, continuity of care, and equitable care provision.…”

“…A transdisciplinary framework for chronic disease research has been established by health services researchers [1,2] in the selection of relevant variables for the prediction of disease transition during a life course, as particularly related to Type 2 diabetes [3][4][5], heart failure [6,7], and chronic kidney disease [8]. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has strongly advocated for the use of practical selfcare management strategies to tackle chronic disease management under severe resource constraints [9,10].…”