Relationship between self-care and social and clinical conditions of patients with heart failure

Abstract

Objective: to identify the relationship between self-care measures and the social and clinical conditions of patients with heart failure. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 100 patients with heart failure, in outpatient follow-up. To assess self-care, the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale was used. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results: the self-care score presented an average of 35.17 +/- 7.87, with a variation of 15 to 54 points. A lower average was found in the self-care score for female patients, with a significant difference (p <0.009). The recognition of the presence of lower limb edema, the daily monitoring of body weight and the regular practice of physical activity were presented as self-care measures with greater disagreement among the investigated participants. Conclusion: a better relationship was found between the self-care measures and the female sex.