Abstract
Optimal outcomes and quality of life for patients with heart failure depend on engagement in effective self-care activities. Self-care is a complex set of activities and most clinicians are not adequately prepared to assist their patients to engage in effective self-care. In this paper, we provide an overview of self-care that includes definitions, the importance of self-care to outcomes, the physiologic basis for better outcomes with good self-care, cultural perspectives of self-care, and recommendations for the improvement of self-care. Promotion of effective self-care by all clinicians could substantially reduce the economic and personal burden of repeated rehospitalizations among patients with heart failure.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 265-275 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Current Cardiology Reports |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2012 |
Keywords
- Heart failure
- Outcomes
- Self-care
- Self-management
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine