Adherence to self-care behavior and factors related to this behavior among patients with heart failure in Japan
Presented in part at the 11th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America, Washington, DC, September 17, 2007
published online 27 January 2009.
Background
Adherence to self-care behavior is important for patients with heart failure (HF) to prevent exacerbation of HF. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence, identify associated factors, and clarify the impact of previous HF hospitalizations on adherence in outpatients with HF.
Methods
A total of 116 outpatients completed a questionnaire, including the Japanese version of the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale, to assess adherence.
Results
Regardless of previous hospitalizations, adherence to seek help if HF worsened was poor. Multivariate analysis adjusted for age and brain natriuretic peptide showed that diabetes mellitus and being employed were independent predictors of poorer adherence to self-care behavior (P = .03, P = .02, respectively), but the experience of previous HF hospitalizations was not a predictor.
Conclusions
Self-care strategies for HF should target patients with diabetes mellitus and employed patients. Further study is necessary to develop effective programs for such patients.
aDepartment of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
bResearch Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
cDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Reprint requests: Naoko Kato, RN, MHlthSc, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
This study was granted by the Japan Foundation of Cardiovascular Research (N-1; to N.K.).
ABSTRACT