Determination of salt restriction and dietary compliance in individuals with heart failure

Objective: This research was conducted as a descriptive study to determine salt restriction and dietary compliance in individuals with heart failure (HF). Material and methods: The study was conducted with 180 patients with HF, hospitalized in the cardiology services of three training and research hospitals in Istanbul between September and November 2019. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, the Beliefs about Dietary Compliance Scale (BDCS) and the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ). Descriptive statistics, Independent Sample T test, One Way ANOVA, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, Tukey HSD and LSD analysis were used to analysis data. Results: The average of age of the cases was 63,33±13,8 years, 70% were male and 49,4% of the patients were with HF of NYHA class IV. DSRQ total score average was 62,56±8,30. BDCS sub-dimensions total score averages; for benefit subscale was 25,82±3,72 and for barrier subscale was 13,61±2,69. Control of external barriers to salt restriction was found to be higher in women, illiterate, housewives, singles, patient with diabetes, and for persons aged 66 and over (p <,05). NYHA II class HF patients and those without coronary artery disease were more compliance with the diet (p<,05). It was found that as the benefit perception of the patients increased, salt restriction behaviors in the diet increased, and as the perception of barriers increased, salt restriction behaviors in the diet decreased (p<,001). Conclusion: Perceptions and behavior controls of individuals with HF in terms of salt restriction in the dietary are adequate and their compliance with the dietary. Key words: Heart failure, salt restriction, dietary compliance