SELF-CARE IN HEART FAILURE
Athanasia Tsami
Monday, July 1, 2024
Publication year:
2024
Author:
- Tsami Athanasia, Post-graduate program, Neurological Disorders - Evidence Based Practice Department of Nursing,TEI of Athens
Keywords index:
Pages: 213-221
Abstract:
Introduction: The clinical syndrome of heart failure (HF) consists a global health issue. Self-care is an essential component in HF management. The aim of the present study was to review literature regarding self-care in HF patients. Methodology: Α literature review was conducted using studies published in the electronic databases PubMed and Scopus. The literature search was performed in English mainly during the five last years. The keywords used were “Self-care, heart failure, theories, determinants.” Results: According to the literature review, the most prevalent theories are: (a) the Self-Care of Heart Failure Theory and (b) the Social Learning/Social Cognitive Theory. Self-care in HF involves three key dimensions: maintenance, monitoring, and management. Maintenance includes adherence to treatments and lifestyle changes, such as medication compliance, dietary restrictions, and physical activity, to maintain stability. Monitoring requires patients to observe symptoms and indicators like daily weight to detect early signs of worsening condition. Management refers to the patient’s response to symptom changes, including behavioral adjustments and seeking medical help. Various factors are held to be responsible for self-care in HF. Demographic factors such as age, financial status, health literacy, place of residence as well as clinicals such as comorbidities, disease severity, duration of symptoms, cognitive impairment are associated with self-care. Furthermore, psychosocial factors such emotional disturbance (anxiety, depression) and perceived social support are equally involved in self-care behavior. Conclusions: Given the complex nature of HF, healthcare providers must prioritize patient education and support systems that enhance self-care capabilities across the three dimensions.
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