Min-Hui Liu|Chao?Hung Wang|Ya?Fang Huang|Wen?Jin Cherng|Kai?Wei Katherine Wang
A Correlational Study of Illness Knowledge, Self-Care Behaviors, and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients With Heart Failure
Malaysian Society of Nephrology|Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County|Memorial Hospital of South Bend
patients heart failure experience adverse physical symptoms affect quality life number patients heart failure taiwan growing recent yearsthis article examines correlations among illness knowledge selfcare behaviors quality life elderly patients heart failurea crosssectional research design using three questionnaires adopted study undertaken outpatient department teaching hospital taiwan january june 2008 potential participants aged 65 years older selected physician based several diagnostic findings heart failure included international classification diseases code 4280 4289 patients bedridden prognosis less 6 months excluded considerationone hundred fortyone patients heart failure recruited participants men 518 older adults 496 older 71 years old either educated elementary school level illiterate 695 new york heart association class ii 610 participants average left ventricular ejection fraction 411 illness knowledge participants poor accuracy rate 293 unaware significance selfcare illness knowledge correlated selfcare behaviors r 42 p 01 quality life r 22 p 01 illness knowledge age identified significant correlated factors selfcare behaviors r 22 functional class living independently age identified significant correlated factors quality life r 41participants study higher selfreported selfcare behaviors quality life younger age better illness knowledge furthermore physical function independence daily living significantly affected quality life care patients heart failure particularly older adults focus teaching patients heart failure illness symptom management assisting elderly patients heart failure promote maintain physical functions handle activities daily living independently critical improving patient quality life