Heart failure knowledge and performance of self-care behaviors

Patients with heart failure (HF) must adjust to many life-altering behaviors and are often readmitted to acute care due to lack of knowledge about self-care. Self-care patient education may decrease readmission rates and increase independence of individuals with HF (Artinian, Magnan, Sloan & Lange, 2002b). The purpose of this descriptive correlational study is to examine the frequency of self-care behaviors and the relationship between patients’ level of knowledge and performance of self-care behaviors. The framework is Orem’s Theory of Self-care. A convenience sample of 200 HF patients will be recruited from two Midwestern facilities in Kettering, Ohio, an inner-city hospital and a physician based HF outpatient clinic. The Revised Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale will be utilized to measure self-care behavior frequency. Patient understanding of HF knowledge will be measured by The Heart Failure Knowledge Test. Information about self-care behaviors and patient knowledge can help to tailor interventions and education to improve outcomes for HF patients.School of NursingThesis (M.S.