Family partner intervention influences self-care confidence and treatment self-regulation in patients with heart failure

Abstract

Background: Heart failure self-care requires confidence in one's ability and motivation to perform a recommended behavior. Most self-care occurs within a family context, yet little is known about the influence of family on heart failure self-care or motivating factors.

Aims: To examine the association of family functioning and the self-care antecedents of confidence and motivation among heart failure participants and determine if a family partnership intervention would promote higher levels of perceived confidence and treatment self-regulation (motivation) at four and eight months compared to patient-family education or usual care groups.

Methods: Heart failure patients (N=117) and a family member were randomized to a family partnership intervention, patient-family education or usual care groups. Measures of patient's perceived family functioning, confidence, motivation for medications and following a low-sodium diet were analyzed. Data were collected at baseline, four and eight months.

Results: Family functioning was related to self-care confidence for diet (p=0.02) and autonomous motivation for adhering to their medications (p=0.05) and diet (p=0.2). The family partnership intervention group significantly improved confidence (p=0.05) and motivation (medications (p=0.004; diet p=0.012) at four months, whereas patient-family education group and usual care did not change.

Conclusion: Perceived confidence and motivation for self-care was enhanced by family partnership intervention, regardless of family functioning. Poor family functioning at baseline contributed to lower confidence. Family functioning should be assessed to guide tailored family-patient interventions for better outcomes.

Keywords: Heart failure; family interventions; low-sodium diet; medication administration; self-care confidence.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: There are no disclosures or conflicts of interests.

© The European Society of Cardiology 2015.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 2. PCS Meds and Diet: Percentages HIGH (=7) for Each Group and Time Point

† Post hoc test of time within FPI group (Sidak adjusted p-value); baseline family functioning adjusted for as a covariate

Figure 3. TSR Autonomous Meds and Diet: Percentages HIGH (=7) for Each Group and Time Point

† Post hoc test of time within FPI group (Sidak adjusted p-value); baseline family functioning adjusted for as a covariate