Correlations between self-management and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlations between self-management and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, so as to provide effective measures to improve quality of life of them. Methods A total of 750 elderly patients with CHF were selected as the research subjects by convenience sampling method from 5 regions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from February to August 2015. General Data Questionnaire, Heart Failure Self-Management Scale and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) were applied in the investigation to analyze the correlation between self-management and quality of life. Results A total of 750 questionnaires were distributed and 704 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective recovery rate of 94.1%. The total score of self-management and MLHFQ in the 704 CHF patients was (47.6±11.1) and (57.1±18.5) respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that patients' self-management was positively correlated with quality of life (r=0.114, P<0.05) . Conclusions The overall level of self-management and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure in Xinjiang Region is mid-to-low. Nursing intervention can give full play to the initiative of self-management behavior in accordance with patients' cultural background, so as to improve their quality of life. Key words: Aged; Quality of life; Chronic heart failure; Self-management