On the Consideration of Self-Care Behaviors in Patients Affected by Congestive Heart Failure and Factors Related to it

Background and objectives: The current study aimed at considering the performance, attitude and awareness level of patients affected by congestive heart failure who were hospitalized in Zahedan hospitals with regard to the self-care behaviors and factors related to it. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on ۱۴۰ patients with congestive heart failure who were hospitalized in various hospitals during ۲۰۱۵. The required data was collected through interview and a designed questionnaire. In order to analyze the data, SPSS Software, version ۱۵, was used through chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA test. Findings: There was a direct correlation between patients’ awareness level and attitude (p˂ ۰.۰۰۱ and r=۰.۴۵۹), and behavior (p˂ ۰.۰۰۱ and r=۰.۳۴۵). In addition, a direct correlation was observed between patients’ attitude and their behavior (p= ۰.۰۰۳ and r=۰.۴۵۲). However, there was a reverse correlation between patients’ age and their awareness level (p= ۰.۰۰۳ and r= -۰.۲۵۳), and their attitude (p˂ ۰.۰۳ and r= -۰.۱۸۱). By performing an ANOVA test, it was revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between educational level and awareness (p= ۰.۰۰۱), and patients’ attitude (p= ۰.۰۰۶). The average number of hospitalization was ۳.۳۱%, the most important reasons for hospitalization was shortness of breath (dyspnea) (۷۴%), and the most prevalent background diseases was hypertension (۷۴.۳%). Conclusion: It is necessary to pay enough attention to patients’ needs in this regard, and provide suitable educational programs which improve the patients’ awareness level and positive attitude; finally, these programs can promote self-care behaviors in patients.