Evaluation of Self-Care Behaviours of Patients with Heart Failure

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-care behavior of patients with heart failure. Method: This descriptive study was realized at the Cardiology Clinic of a University Training and Research Hospital. The research sample consisted of 66 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of heart failure in cardiology clinic. The data were collected by socio-demographic form, patient follow-up form and The European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviors Scale-12. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.00 +/- 11.09 and 62.1% male, 51.5% for hypertension and 59.1% diabetes mellitus, 55.8% in class II according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification and total scores of patients in NYHA classification was determined to be 2.3 +/- 0.7. According to the results of the study, the average score of patients of self-care behavior was determined to be 43.00 +/- 5.7. After evaluation of self care behaviours of the subitems was determined to be partially suff icent in behaviors of patients "I weighed every day'', "I do regular exercise'', "I have fl u vaccination every year'' and deficient in the other self-care behaviors. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between sex and self-care behaviors with NYHA classification (p>0.05). Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the self-care behaviors of patients were deficient.