Adherence to self-care recommendations and associated factors among adult heart failure patients. From the patients’ point of view

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, heart failure (HF) related morbidity and mortality rate is increasing globally. Younger populations happen to be more affected by HF in sub- Saharan African than the western countries. Even though medications, low sodium diet, regular exercise, and weight monitoring are essential to control heart failure symptoms and its exacerbation, poor adherence to these self-care recommendations is contributing to an increased in hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to assess heart failure patients' adherence to self-care recommendations and its associated factors. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 adult heart failure patients attending Gondar University referral hospital from February to May 2017. The participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face to face interview and from the patients' medical records. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A binary logistic regression model was used to check the effect of different factors on the patients' adherence level. RESULTS: Of 310 study participants only 22.3% (95% CI, 17.4%-26.8%) of heart failure patients reported good adherence to their self-care recommendations. Adherence to self-care recommendation 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 free from chronic comorbid diseases (AOR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.28-5.14). CONCLUSION: Overall, heart failure patients' adherence to self-care recommendations is poor and selective. Being male in gender, had no chronic comorbidity, and a 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 management approaches, to improve the patients' adherence level.