Perceived benefits and barriers of heart failure self-care during and after hospitalization.

This longitudinal study describes the heart failure (HF) patient's perceived benefits and barriers to self-care during hospitalization, 1 week, and 1 month after hospitalization. Seventy-eight patients with acute HF completed the Health Belief Scales to determine the greatest benefits and barriers to self-care at each time point. Findings suggest that early benefits to performing self-care include reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. Later benefits focus more on promoting health. Barriers to self-care include forgetfulness and knowledge deficits about self-care behaviors. At 1 month, 15.1% to 48.5% patients reported that monitoring increases worry about HF. Home care clinicians can promote self-care through education and skills training.