Heart failure patients' knowledge about their diseases and self-care behaviors

The research aims to determine the knowledge of individuals with heart failure regarding their diseases and self-care behaviors. The descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients who applied for Al-Sadder Medical Center in Al-Necef City of Iraq to treat and control heart failure. The data were collected on 01.05.2021- 28.07.2021 based on self-reports with the Introductory Information Form, the Arabic Dutch Heart Failure knowledge Scale, and the Arabic Heart Failure Self-Care Index. Data were evaluated with descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis H, correlation, and linear regression tests. For post hoc tests Tukey and Dunnett were used. Statistical significance was taken as p<0.05. The patients' heart failure knowledge and self-care are low (Arabic Dutch Heart Failure knowledge Scale: 4.73±2.01, Arabic Heart Failure Self-Care Index: 37.67±11.35, Self-Care Maintenance:36.87±10.13, Self-Care Management: 45.25±13.98, Confidence in Providing Self-Care: 30.88±20.41). Heart failure knowledge scores were higher in those who talked about their problems with a doctor/nurse (p<0.05). Self-care scores increase in cases of high heart failure knowledge, high school and higher education, regular health check-ups for the disease and knowing the name and effects of the drugs used, and decrease with smoking (p<0.05). The patients' knowledge and self-care about heart failure are insufficient and they are affected by various factors. In order to increase the heart failure knowledge and self-care of patients, it is recommended to organize and maintain planned cardiac education programs by health personnel, especially by nurses, which should include the affecting factors. Keywords: Heart Failure, Heart Failure Management, Knowledge, Self Care, Nursing.