Assessment Of Self-Care Practice And Associated Factors Among Heart Failure Patients On Follow Up In Public Hospitals Of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia

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