Correlation between self-management behavior and activation among elderly patients with chronic heart failure

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation between self-management behavior and activation among elderly patients with chronic heart failure, so as to provide a basis for improving patients' self-management skills. Methods From 1st May 2016 to 30th September 2017, we selected 230 elderly patients with chronic heart failure at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University by convenience sampling. The Self-Management Scale of Heart Failure Patients and Patient Activation Measure (PAM) were used to investigate the scores of self-management behavior and activation among chronic heart failure patients. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between them. Results A total of 245 questionnaires were sent out with 230 valid questionnaires and 93.8% for the effective recovery rate. The total scores of self-management behavior and activation were (72.3±12.4) and (56.3±10.3) among chronic heart failure patients. The influencing factors of self-management behavior of chronic heart failure patients included cardiac functional grading, course of disease and patient activation (P<0.05) . The total self-management behavior and its four dimensions had positive correlations with patient activation (P<0.05) . Conclusions Elderly patients with chronic heart failure are with a poor level of self-management behavior and patient activation needs to be improved. Medical staff should formulate individual intervention based on patient activation, so as to improve patients' self-management skills. Key words: Aged; Chronic heart failure; Self-management behavior; Patient participation