Self-care Behavior Scores Research Articles

Self-care in Cardiovascular Patients: a Cross-Sectional Study in Hamadan County, the west of Iran

Cardiovascular disease is the highest rate of mortality in the world; Self-care behaviors in patients with chronic diseases, is critical im- portance to improve patient quality of life. The aim of this study determined self-care behavior and associated with social support and quality of life between the sample of cardiovascular patients in Ekbatan hospital in Hamadan County, the west of Iran. This cross- sectional study was conducted between 326 cardiovascular patients. Data collections based on interview and were analyzed by SPSS version 21 using bivariate correlations, t-test, and One-way ANOVA statistical tests at 95% significant level. Our result showed the main score of self-care behavior was 33.41 (SD: 8.57). We found the correlation between sex, education, and cardiothoracic surgery with self- care behavior among the participants (P<0.05). Take medication as prescribed, and rest during the day were more self-care behavior adherence. Our findings indicated the self-care behavior among cardiovascular patients was low it is necessary to attention this issue in patient's education program.

Correlates of Self-Care Behaviors among Low-Income Elderly Women with Hypertension in South Korea

To identify correlates of self-care behaviors among elderly, low-income Korean women with hypertension. A secondary analysis of data from a community-based intervention trial for hypertension control. Three community health posts in the Gangwon province, South Korea. Two hundred thirty-four (234) low-income elderly women (age 60-93) who had previously participated in a community-based intervention trial for hypertension control. The researchers collected data that included patient background characteristics, hypertension self-care behavior, self-efficacy of hypertension control, general knowledge of hypertension, and social support. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including hierarchical regression analysis. The model explained 41.1% of the total variance in hypertension self-care behavior scores. Among elderly, low-income Korean women, the significant factors of their hypertension self-care behavior included: (a) self-efficacy of hypertension control (β = .62), (b) social support (β = .16), and (c) age (β = -.14). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that elderly Korean women that had higher self-efficacy of hypertension control, higher social support, and were younger were more likely to have higher hypertension self-care behavior scores. The results highlight the need for interventions that focus on improving an individual's self-efficacy and social support to enhance hypertension self-care. The findings of this study can help nurses better understand hypertension self-care behavior in elderly, low-income Korean women.

Stimulation to self-care in patients with heart failure: A quasi-experimental study

Background : Patients with Heart Failure (HF) live with a serious disease, and need long term rehabilitation care. Rehabilitation takes place in the hospital as well as in the primary care setting. Elements in rehabilitation for patients with HF are based on the recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology and focuses on self-care and adherence in general. There are no specific guidelines for primary health care. Focus in this study is when the patient is discharged from the outpatient clinic to a primary care setting. The aim of this study is to test a protocol for individual planning of rehabilitation for HF patients with mild to moderate symptoms and to test the effect of individually prepared rehabilitation plans. Methods : The study design is quasi-experimental. Patients in the control group follow the conventional rehabilitation. For the patients in the intervention group an individual rehabilitation plan was prepared and supplemented with telephone follow up after 4 and 12 weeks. All patients’ health status and self-care behaviors were measured at study inclusion (baseline) and after 4 and 12 weeks. Results : 162 patients were included in the study of which 137 (84.6%) consented to participate. There were no differences in total self-care behavior between the groups at the beginning of the trial ( p = .161). After 4 weeks the total score in the control group was 25.3 and in the intervention group the total score was 22.2 ( p = .049). After 12 weeks the score in the control group was 26.8, which was similar to the score at the beginning of the trial, and in the intervention group the score was 22.6, which gives a difference in total score of 6.2 ( p = .007). Conclusion : A systematic prepared intervention leads to a significant increase in total self-care behavior scores in HF patients

Effect of health contract intervention on renal dialysis patients in Korea

This study is a randomized, controlled trial to examine the effect of the health contract intervention, based on the goal attainment theory, on the self-care behavior and physiological indices of renal dialysis patients in Korea. The experimental group (n = 21) underwent health contract intervention for 4 weeks, while the control group (n = 22) received routine care. The data were collected using questionnaires and measurement of physiological indices and analyzed using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Total score of self-care behavior (P = 0.011) and individual scores for behaviors, such as diet (P = 0.017), exercise and rest (P = 0.001), and blood pressure and body weight (P = 0.006) were higher in the experimental group. Serum potassium concentration and mean weight gain between dialysis sessions were significantly low in the experimental group (P = 0.002, P = 0.017). Therefore, the health contract intervention based on the goal attainment theory proved effective in improving self-care behavior and physiological indices (K, P, mean weight gain) in renal dialysis patients in Korea.

Self-Care Behaviors among Thai Primigravida Teenagers

The purpose of this study was to investigate predictive factors of the self-care behaviors among Thai teenagers with primigravida. The samples of 206 primigravida teenagers attending ANC clinics of six hospitals in the North-Eastern region of Thailand were included. Data collection was done through self administered-questionnaire. Scales of the questionnaire had reliability coefficients ranging from 0.72 – 0.92. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the percentage-mean score of overall self-care behavior was 76.91. The percentage-mean scores of self-care behaviors in specific trimester were found that the score in the second trimester was lower than the scores in the first and third trimesters (57.58, 60.45, and 64.65, respectively). Factors associated with overall self-care behavior were perceived self-efficacy, perceived social support from family, knowledge on self-care during pregnancy, accessibility to health services, self-esteem and age (r = 0.47, 0.34, 0.28, 0.24, 0.19, and 0.15, respectively). Perceived self-efficacy and knowledge on self-care during pregnancy were the two considerable predictors accounted for 25% of the variance in the self-care behaviors of Thai teenagers with primigravida.

Effectiveness of a community‐based health promotion program targeting people with hypertension and high cholesterol

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based health promotion program targeting people with hypertension and high cholesterol. A pre-experimental study was conducted. A total of 60 residents were recruited to participate. Participants were assessed at baseline and at a 6 month follow up at a regional hospital in northern Taiwan. The questionnaires used for data collection consisted of an assessment of self-efficacy, self-care activities, health outcomes, and physical fitness. Several teaching resources were used, including a DVD, a self-care booklet, group support (exercise and counseling sessions), and telephone follow up. A significant decrease in waist circumference (t = 2.20, P = 0.03) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (t = 4.71, P < 0.00) was found at follow up. Moreover, the level of physical fitness activity, and sit-ups specifically (t = 3.10, P < 0.00), was increased. Participants also showed significant increases between baseline and 6 month follow up in their efficacy expectation score (t = -5.81, P < 0.00), outcome expectation scores (t = -4.76, P < 0.00) and self-care behavior scores (t = -2.78, P = 0.007). The community-based health promotion program is an effective means of helping people with hypertension and high cholesterol and should be instituted regularly and evaluated in clinical practice.

Gender differences in and factors related to self-care behaviors: A cross-sectional, correlational study of patients with heart failure

Background Although self-care may reduce exacerbations of heart failure, reported rates of effective self-care in patients with heart failure are low. Modifiable factors, including psychosocial status, knowledge, and physical factors, are thought to influence heart failure self-care, but little is known about their combined impact on self-care. Objectives The objective of this study was to identify factors related to self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure. Design A cross-sectional, correlational study design was used. Participants and settings One hundred twenty-two patients (77 men and 45 women, mean age 60 ± 12 years old, 66% New York Heart Association functional class III/IV) were recruited from the outpatient clinics of an academic medical center and two community hospitals. Methods Data on self-care behaviors (Self-Care of Heart Failure Index), depressive symptoms, perceived control, self-care confidence, knowledge, functional status, and social support were collected. Factors related to self-care were examined using hierarchical multiple regression. Results Mean self-care behavior scores were less than 70 indicating the majority of men and women with HF did not consistently engage in self-care behaviors. Higher self-care confidence and perceived control and better heart failure management knowledge were associated with better self-care ( r 2 = .25, p < .001). Higher perceived control and better knowledge were related to better self-care behaviors in men ( r 2 = .18, p = .001), while higher self-care confidence and poorer functional status were related to better self-care behaviors in women ( r 2 = .35, p < .001). Conclusion This study demonstrates the substantial impact of modifiable factors such as confidence in one’s self-care abilities, perceived control, and knowledge on self-care behaviors. This study demonstrates that there are gender differences in factors affecting self-care, even though at baseline men and women have similar knowledge levels, physical, psychological, and behavioral status. Effective interventions focusing on modifiable factors and the unique characteristics of men and women should be provided to improve self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure.

Randomized study of the effect of video education on heart failure healthcare utilization, symptoms, and self-care behaviors

Objective Adherence to self-care behaviors improves heart failure (HF) morbidity and life quality. We examined short-term impact of video education (VE) in addition to standard education (SE) on HF healthcare utilization and self-care behavior adherence. Methods One hundred and twelve hospitalized patients were randomly assigned to SE ( n = 53) or SE plus VE ( n = 59). Differences between groups were analyzed in patients who underwent 3-month follow-up (39 SE and 37 VE patients). Mean age was 60 ± 14 years; mean HF length was 57 months. Results Three-month healthcare utilization was similar between groups but VE patients needed less extra diuretic dosing ( P < 0.02), received more HF literature ( P < 0.03), and had less healthcare team telephone communication ( P < 0.04). VE patients had greater sign/symptom reduction ( P < 0.04); especially related to edema ( P < 0.01) and fatigue ( P < 0.01) and initiated more actions for edema ( P < 0.05) and dyspnea (with exercise or rest, both P < 0.01). Overall, VE patients had a higher mean self-care behavior score ( P < 0.01), reflecting greater self-care adherence. Conclusion Video education prompts self-care behavior adherence to control worsening signs/symptoms of volume overload. During 3-month follow-up, utilization of most healthcare resources was unchanged. Practice implications VE is a useful adjunct to in-person education.

Self-care behaviors among patients with heart failure

Background: One way to prevent frequent hospitalizations and promote positive health outcomes among patients with heart failure (HF) is to ensure that the amount and quality of self-care used is appropriate to the patient's situation. Objectives: The following are the purposes of this study: (a) examine the frequency of performance of self-care behaviors, (b) describe personal and environmental factors (basic conditioning factors [BCFs]) that affect self-care behaviors, and (c) describe the relationship between the level of knowledge patients have to empower their performance of self-care and the actual performance of self-care behaviors. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was guided by Orem's theory of self-care. One hundred ten participants, predominantly African Americans, who were outpatients or inpatients ready for hospital discharge, 18 years or older, and diagnosed with HF that was confirmed by an ejection fraction of 40% or less were conveniently selected from 1 of 2 sites. Data were collected with 2 investigator-developed instruments: the Revised Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale and the Heart Failure Knowledge Test. Descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and t tests for independent samples were used to analyze the data. Results: Three of the top 5 most frequently performed self-care behaviors were related to taking prescribed medications, and the 5 least frequently performed self-care behaviors were concerned with symptom monitoring or management. There were no significant relationships between the total self-care behavior score and any of the BCFs; however, a number of significant relationships between BCFs and individual self-care behaviors were observed. There was a significant relationship between the mean total knowledge score and the total mean self-care score (r = 0.21, P =.026). Conclusion: Detailed information about the influence of BCFs on the performance of specific HF self-care behaviors can help nurses tailor interventions to the patient's situation. (Heart Lung® 2002;31:161-72.)

Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life, and Self-Care Among Survivors of Myocardial Infarction

This article examines the relationship between anxiety, depression, quality of life, and performance of suggested self-care behaviors among older adult myocardial infarction survivors. Interviews were conducted with 94 adults aged 65 years and older. The Profile of Mood States was used to measure anxiety and depression. Quality of life was measured with the Perceived Quality of Life scale. The Health Behavior Scale was used to measure performance of suggested self-care behaviors (modify diet, administer medications, manage stress, exercise, and reduce smoking). Depression scores accounted for 49% of the variance in quality of life scores. Depression scores predicted each of the self-care behavior scores. Anxiety scores did not predict quality of life scores or any self-care behavior score. Findings suggest that mental health interventions should become an integral part of formal cardiac rehabilitation programs soon after the infarction; interventions for depression long after the infarction are needed as well.