Abstract:
Background: Despite adequate pharmacological therapy, heart failure is associated with
high morbidity and mortality. The concept of self-care is supported internationally in
evidence-based practice guidelines. Therefore, the focus of healthcare is now on optimizing
daily self-care to improve the survival and well-being of heart failure patients and avoid
hospitalizations.
Objective: To assess self-care practice and associated factors among patients with heart
failure who were on follow up in public hospitals of East Gojam zone, Amhara, Ethiopia,
2021.
Method: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted from August 25 to
September 25, 2021. A total of 418 patients whose age were 18 years and above were
recruited by systematic sampling method. The “Self-care of Heart failure index” was used
to assess the prevalence of heart failure self-care practice. The data was entered in to Epi
data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Variables having P value <
0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis was entered into the multivariable logistic
model. Finally p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Result: Among participants, 412 responded completely with a response rate of 98.5%. The
overall good heart failure self-care practice was found to be 43.2% (95% CI: 38.8-48.2).
The prevalence of good self-care maintenance, good self-care management and good self care confidence was found to be 40.8 (95% CI: 36.5-45.6), 50% (95% CI: 45.1-54.9) and
53.9% (95% CI: 49.0-58.3) respectively. This study revealed that level of education,
NYHAC, duration since diagnosis and social support status were the independent
predictors of self-care practice.
Conclusion and recommendation: A significant proportion of heart failure patients had
poor adherence to self-care practice. The provision of health education and counseling for
heart failure patients will play a prominent role
