The Relationship of Self-Care with Quality of Life in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure –Tabriz Shahid Madani Educational Hospital , 2016

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Heart failure is a chronic and progressive disease of the older adults in the world. The costs to the treatment of the patients are a burden on society. One way to reduce the costs is self-care. Moreover, one of the goals of the treatment in chronic patients is to improve the quality of life for them. The aim of this study was to determine the self-care and QOL of Iranian older adults with heart failure and to examine the relationship between self-care and QOL in the patients. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive correlational study. Sampling was based on convenience sampling method. Three questionnaires were answered by the participants included demographic questions, Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHF). Finally, data were entered in SPSS16 software and were analyzed. Results: Mean scores obtained in three subscales of self-care (maintenance, management, self-confidence) were 28.58 ± 11.54, 53.12 ± 23.41, 51.98 ± 15.88, respectively. The QOL score was achieved 53.27 ± 18.09. Physical and emotional quality of life for the patients had an inverse and significant relationship with their self-confidence. The overall QOL had a positive and significant relationship with maintaining self-care. Conclusion: Self-care of older adults with heart failure was less than desirable in all three subscales of self-care. As the results indicate the relationship between self-care and QOL as well as some demographic and clinical characteristics in these patients, using methods for improving self-care can be associated with improved QOL.