Predictors of Hospitalization and Quality of Life in Heart Failure: A Model of Comorbidity, Self-Efficacy and Self-Care

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2015

Keywords

comorbidity, self-efficacy, self-care, explanatory model, heart failure

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.06.018

Abstract

Background: Comorbidity is associated with decreased confidence or self-efficacy to perform self-care in heart failure patients which, in turn, impairs self-care behaviors. Comorbidity is also associated with increased hospitalization rates and poorer quality of life. Yet the manner in which comorbidity and self-efficacy interact to influence self-care, hospitalization, and quality of life remains unclear.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test an explanatory model. The research questions were (1) What is the contribution of comorbidity to heart failure self-care behaviors and outcomes (i.e. hospitalization, quality of life)? and (2) Is comorbidity a moderator of the relationship between self-efficacy and heart failure self-care behaviors?

Design: This was an analysis of an existing dataset of 628 symptomatic, older (mean age=73, standard deviation (SD)=11) male (58%) Italian heart failure patients using structural equation modeling and simple slope analysis.

Results: Higher levels of self-care maintenance were associated with higher quality of life and lower hospitalization rates. Higher levels of comorbidity were associated with lower levels of self-care management. Comorbidity moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and self-care maintenance, but not self-care management. Post hoc simple slopes analysis showed significantly different slope coefficients (pdiff

Conclusions: Self-efficacy is important in the self-care maintenance process at each level of comorbidity. Because higher comorbidity weakens the strength of the relationship between self-efficacy and self-care maintenance, tailoring interventions aimed at improving self-efficacy to different levels of comorbidity may be key to impacting hospitalization and quality of life.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

International Journal of Nursing Studies, v. 52, issue 11, p. 1714-1722

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