Self-Care Behaviors among Patients who have Cardiac Valve Replacement at Srinagarind Hospital

Abstract

Background and objective : Self-care behaviors after cardiac valve replacement surgery are important to prevent complications and improve quality of life.  This study aims to examine the self care behaviors among patients who have had cardiac valve replacement and to investigate the relationships between gender, age, education level , marital status, functional class , duration after cardiac valve replacement and self care behaviors.

Methods: Descriptive study was used to investigate self care behaviors of one hundred and fifty patients who were followed up at the outpatient department in Srinagarind Hospital between April – October, 2012. Data were collected by using the questionnaire of self care behaviors after cardiac valve replacement surgery. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and Eta statistics

Results: The level of overall self care behaviors was good (3.16 ± 0.478). There were no significant relationships between gender, age, education level, marital status, functional class , duration after cardiac valvular replacement and self care behaviors.

Conclusion: Most patients had good self-care behaviors. Appropriate dental screening was the lowest mean score.  Health care providers should encourage patients to maintain good oral hygiene.  Despite the lack of significant relationships between gender, age, education level, marital status, functional class, duration after cardiac valve replacement and self care behaviors, nurses should consider to these factors when teaching self care behavior guidelines for the patients’ lifestyle.