Abstract
Introduction: Heart failure is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease. It is the end stage of most cardiovascular diseases and is characterized by the reduced ability of the heart to pump enough blood to fulfill the metabolic needs of the body. Self-care is the basis of the management of chronic diseases such as heart failure. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers to self-care among patients with heart failure. Methods: This was a qualitative content analysis. Participants were fourteen patients with heart failure and three healthcare providers who were purposively recruited from cardiac care centers in Zanjan, Iran. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and were analyzed through the conventional qualitative content analysis approach proposed by Elo and Kyngäs. Results: Self-care barriers -care among patients with HF were categorized into three main categories, namely personal factors, disease burden, and inefficient support system. Each category had three subcategories which were respectively lack of self-care knowledge, heart failure-related negative emotions, the difficulty of changing habits, progressive physical decline, comorbid conditions, financial strain, inadequate social support, healthcare providers’ inattention to self-care, and limited access to healthcare providers. Conclusion: Patients with heart failure face different personal, disease-related, and support-related barriers to self-care. Based on these barriers, healthcare providers can develop interventions for promoting self-care among patients with heart failure.
Highlights
Heart failure is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease
Data analysis revealed that the barriers to self-care among patients with Heart failure (HF) included three main categories, namely personal factors, disease burden, and inefficient support system
This study explored the barriers to self-care among patients with HF
Summary
Heart failure is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease. It is the end stage of most cardiovascular diseases and is characterized by the reduced ability of the heart to pump enough blood to fulfill the metabolic needs of the body. Conclusion: Patients with heart failure face different personal, disease-related, and supportrelated barriers to self-care. Heart failure (HF) is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease It is the end-stage condition of most cardiovascular disease and is characterized by the reduced ability of the heart to pump enough blood to fulfill the metabolic needs of the body.[1] The prevalence of HF has significantly increased in recent years due to the aging of population and improved survival of patients with coronary artery disease.[2] The prevalence of HF among people over 45 years is 1%–2% in most countries and 3%–5% in the world. Despite many advances in HF management, HF is still associated with many different negative consequences for patients, families, and healthcare systems It significantly reduces quality of life, results in frequent hospitalizations, and causes many deaths.[6] The annual death rate of HF is 16.5%. A large part of HF-related costs are due to frequent and lengthy hospitalizations, most of which can be prevented through self-care
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