Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Nowadays, heart failure related morbidity and mortality is increasing
globally. It much affecting younger age African individuals than Europe and America.
Though medication, low sodium diet, regular exercise, and weight monitoring are essential
to control heart failure symptoms and its exacerbations, poor adherence to these treatment
recommendations is contributing to an increase in hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality.
There is no evidence for heart failure patients self-care treatment adherence and factors
associated with patient’s adherence level in this setting.
Objective: This study was aimed to assess heart failure patients self-care treatment
adherence and associated factors at University of Gondar Referral Hospital, 2017.
Methods: A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 adult heart
failure patients selected by systematic random sampling technique at University of Gondar
Referral Hospital, from February 15 to May 15, 2017. Data were collected through face to
face interview by using adherence measurement scale questionnaires. Factors associated
to self-care adherence were analyzed by binary logistic regression. In multivariable
analysis variables with p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Of 310 study participants only 69 (22.3%, 95% CI, 17.4%-26.8%) heart failure
patients had good adherence to their self-care recommendations. Adherence was
positively associated with being male in gender (AOR=2.34, 95% CI: 1.18-4.62), good
level of heart failure knowledge (AOR =2.49, 95% CI: 1.276-4.856) and absence of chronic
comorbid diseases (AOR =2.57, 95% CI: 1.28-5.14).
Conclusion and recommendations: Overall, heart failure patients adherence to selfcare
recommendations is poor and selective. Being male in gender, absence of
chronic comorbid diseases, and good level of heart failure knowledge were positively
associated with adherence to self-care recommendations. It is therefore strategic to
plan improving heart failure patients knowledge about heart failure signs, symptoms
and its treatment to improve patients adherence level.
Keywords: Self-care, Heart failure, Adherence, Gondar, Ethiopia.
