Correlation between family care and self-care in heart failure patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between family care and self-care in heart failure patients and to explore effective measures of improving self-care of heart failure patients. Methods The Family APGAR and Self-care of Heart Failure Index were used to investigate 144 heart failure inpatients. The correlation between family care and self-care was analyzed. Results Family care scores was high (7.49 ±3.03). The Level of total serf-care was low ( 156.23 ± 38.51 ): the score of self-care maintenance, self-care management and self-care confidence was (54.38 ± 10.41 ), (49.14 ± 21.33) and (53.02 ±13.74)respectively. Family care was positively correlated with self-care in heart failure patients (r =0.21 ,P ＜0.05 ).Conclusions Heart failure patients should enhance the skills and confidence of coping symptoms. Since family care has positive effect on self-care of patients, it is important to emphasize family function on caring heart failure patients. Key words: Heart Failure; Family Support; Self-care