Investigation of self-care behaviors and symptom status in patients with heart failure

This study was carried out as a descriptive study to examine self-care behaviors and symptom status in patients with heart failure. The study was conducted with 212 patients in Malatya Turgut Özal Medical Center Cardiology Clinic and Coronary Intensive Care Unit between September 2021 and March 2022. The Patient Characteristics Form, The European Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale and Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure were used to collect data in the study. In statistical analysis t-test and ANOVA were used. The total mean score of the patients' self-care behaviors scale was 31.70±4.88, and most of the patients (84.0%) had appropriate self-care behaviors. The patients' most adaptive self-care behaviors were trying to calm down in case of shortness of breath, resting during the day, taking their medications regularly, and alcohol restriction; while the least-adapted self-care behaviors were weight monitoring, regular exercise, and getting a flu shot every year. It was found that patients aged 75 and over, single, with low education level, without social security, and who did not go to hospital controls, had significantly lower self-care behaviors. The mean score of the heart failure symptom status questionnaire of the patients was 45.22±14.78 and they experienced moderate symptom intensity. Dyspnea, fatigue/low energy, and sleep problems were found as the most common symptoms experienced by the patients. It was found that patients aged 75 and over, with low education level, not working, without social security, living in rural areas, diagnosis period of 6 years or more, hospitalized in the last 1 year, and patients with high New York Heart Association Functional Classification stage were found to experience more symptoms. A weak, non-significant positive correlation between the self-care behaviors and the symptom status of the patients. It is recommended that nurses periodically evaluate patients' self-care behaviors and symptom states with valid and reliable measurement tools, and implement patient education and follow-up programs to improve patients' self-care behaviors.