Author(s):
Sheeja Sebastian, Tresa Anto, Philo Resmi
Email(s):
sheejasebastianjmcon@gmail.com
DOI:
10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00026 
Address:
Sheeja Sebastian1, Tresa Anto2, Philo Resmi3
1Associate Professor, Jubilee Mission College of Nursing, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
2Vice-Principal and Guide, Jubilee Mission College of Nursing, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
3Vice-Principal and Coguide, Jubilee Mission College of Nursing, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 14,
Issue - 2,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Heart failure (HF) is a major global public health concern characterized by progressive structural and functional abnormalities of the heart, leading to symptoms such as dyspnoea, fatigue, and increased jugular venous pressure. It affects approximately 37.7 million people worldwide, with a prevalence of 1–2% among adults and more than 12% among individuals aged over 80 years. Evidence from studies in South India indicates that ischemic heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and cardiomyopathies are major etiological factors of HF, often accompanied by comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and renal dysfunction. Research also shows that many HF patients demonstrate inadequate knowledge and suboptimal self-care practices despite relatively good medication adherence. Self-care in HF encompasses a range of daily behaviours, including medication adherence, dietary regulation, symptom monitoring, physical activity, and lifestyle modification. Conceptually, self-care is categorized into three interrelated dimensions: self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring, and self-care management. These behaviours help maintain physiological stability, enable early recognition of symptom worsening, and support timely intervention to prevent complications. However, self-care practices are influenced by multiple determinants, including sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, psychological factors, social support, and environmental conditions. Barriers such as limited knowledge, cognitive impairment, depression, and economic constraints can hinder effective self-management. Enhancing patients’ understanding and engagement in self-care practices is essential for reducing hospitalizations, improving clinical outcomes, and enhancing overall quality of life.
Cite this article:
Sheeja Sebastian, Tresa Anto, Philo Resmi. Self-care among patients with Heart Failure: A Concise Review. International Journal of Advances in Nursing Management.2026;14(2):124-7. doi: 10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00026
Cite(Electronic):
Sheeja Sebastian, Tresa Anto, Philo Resmi. Self-care among patients with Heart Failure: A Concise Review. International Journal of Advances in Nursing Management.2026;14(2):124-7. doi: 10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00026 Available on: https://www.ijanm.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-14-2-12
REFERENCE:
1. Kurmani S, Squire I. Acute Heart Failure: Definition, Classification and Epidemiology. Current Heart Failure Reports. 2017; 14(5): 385–92.
2. Vellone, Ercole, Fida, Roberta; Ghezzi, Valerio; D’Agostino, Fabio; Biagioli, Valentina; Paturzo, Marco; Strömberg, Anna; Alvaro, Rosaria; Jaarsma, Tiny. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing [Internet]. 2017; 32(2): 180–9. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/jcnjournal/abstract/2017/03000/patterns_of_self_care_in_adults_with_heart_failure.14.aspx
3. Ganapathi S, Jeemon P, Krishnasankar R, Kochumoni R, Vineeth P, Mohanan Nair KK, et al. Early and long-term outcomes of decompensated heart failure patients in a tertiary-care centre in India. ESC Heart Failure. 2020 Apr 1; 7(2): 467–73.
4. Prima Jenevive Jyothi D’Souza, Linu Sara George GP, Tom Devasia, Anice George, Baby S. Nayak KP. Knowledge and self‑care behavior among heart failure patients in South India. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. 2024;(13):384.
5. Patidar AB, Kaur H, Kumar R. Self Care of Heart Failure and Health Related Quality of Life among Congestive Heart Failure Patients in Punjab, India. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research. 2021; 11(4): 68–74.
6. Longhini J, Gauthier K, Konradsen H, Palese A, Kabir ZN, Waldréus N. The effectiveness of nursing interventions to improve self-care for patients with heart failure at home: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nursing. 2025; 24(1).
7. Riegel B, Dickson VV, Vellone E. The Situation-Specific Theory of Heart Failure Self-care: An Update on the Problem, Person, and Environmental Factors Influencing Heart Failure Self-care. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2022; 37(6): 515–29.
8. Yin Z, Hughes JD, Glaser KJ, Manduca A, Van Gompel J, Link MJ, et al. What are effective program characteristics of self-management interventions in patients with heart failure? An individual patient data meta-analysis. Physiology and Behavior. 2017; 176(3): 139–48.
9. Jaarsma T, Hill L, Bayes-Genis A, La Rocca HPB, Castiello T, Čelutkienė J, et al. Self-care of heart failure patients: practical management recommendations from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology. European Journal of Heart Failure. 2021; 23(1): 157–74.
10. Prima J. J. D’Souza, Mitchelle S. Lewis GP, Judith A. Noronha, Kusumavathi P, Tom Devasia LSG. Factors associated with self‑care behavior among heart failure patients in India: A systematic review. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. 2025; 14: 344.
11. Vatmasari RA, Putra KR, Windarwati HD, Hany A. Key factors associated with self-care among patients with heart failure: A scoping review of cross-sectional studies. Narra X. 2025; 3(3).
12. Aghajanloo A, Negarandeh R, Janani L, Tanha K, Hoseini-Esfidarjani SS. Self-care status in patients with heart failure: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Nursing Open. 2021; 8(5): 2235–48.
13. Bekele F, Tafese L, Demsash AW, Tesfaye H, Labata BG, Fekadu G. Adherence to self-care practices and associated factors among heart failure patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2023; 18(8 August): 1–12. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288824