Self care behavior in patients with heart failure in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the self-care behaviors and associated demographic factors affecting such behaviors in the heart failure population in Taiwan. METHODS A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was used in this study and 86 heart failure patients were sampled by convenience sampling. Demographic questionnaire and Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, V. 6 were used to collect these data. Descriptive statistic, correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS The result indicated a low level of self-care maintenance and management although self-care confidence was adequate. Patients who were married had better self-care maintenance and self-care confidence than those who were single. Self-care confidence was a determinant of self-care maintenance. CONCLUSION This study provided detailed information on self-care behavior status in heart failure patients in Taiwan.