Relationship between perceived fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in heart failure patients

Tuğba Yeni
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Elif Bülbül
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Sevda Efil
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Meryem Yıldız-Ayvaz
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Sevda Turen
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Ayfer Hiçerimez
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Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Hamidiye Faculty of Nursing, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
Faculty of Nursing, Koç University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Arel University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
Received: 4.11.2023 / Revised: 23.01.2024 / Accepted: 25.01.2024 / Published: 30.06.2024

Abstract

Introduction and aim. The fear of contracting COVID-19, which affects human health biopsychosocially, is expected to affect the self-care management of patients with heart failure (HF). This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between perceived fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in HF patients.

Material and methods. The study was conducted with 115 HF patients. “Sociodemographic characteristics form”, “Fear of COVID-19 tool” and “Nine-item European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale (EHFScB Scale-9)” were used to collect data.

Results. 51.3% of the participants in the study are in the 40–60 age range, 53.7% are male, 92.2% live with their family, 64.3% have a diagnosis of HF for less than 5 years. Levels of COVID-19 fear, and self-care management were found to be high in the participants who are 40 years old or younger, has higher education level, diagnosed within 1 to 3 years, received psychological support during the pandemic process, received training from doctor or nurse about COVID-19. Fear level and self-care levels were moderately positively correlated.

Conclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to develop effective care strategies to identify individuals with diseases such as HF who should have high self-care management skills.

 

Cite

Yeni T, Bülbül E, Efil S, Yıldız-Ayvaz M, Türen S, Hiçerimez A. Relationship between perceived fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in heart failure patients. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2024;22(2):306–312. doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2024.2.10.

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