Abstract
Background: Adherence to self-care behaviors improves outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF). Caregivers play an important role in contributing to self-care.
Objective: We aimed to explore the relationships among HF knowledge, perceived control, social support, and family caregiver contribution to self-care of HF, based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model.
Methods: Two hundred forty-seven dyads of eligible patients with HF and family caregivers were recruited from a general hospital in China. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data obtained with the Caregiver Contribution to Self-care of Heart Failure Index, the Heart Failure Knowledge Test, the Control Attitudes Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale.
Results: In this model, caregiver contribution to self-care maintenance was positively affected by perceived control ([beta] = .148, P = .015) and caregiver confidence in contribution to self-care ([beta] = .293, P < .001). Caregiver contribution to self-care management was positively affected by HF knowledge ([beta] = .270, P < .001), perceived control ([beta] = .140, P = .007), social support ([beta] = .123, P = .019), caregiver confidence in contribution to self-care ([beta] = .328, P < .001), and caregiver contribution to self-care maintenance ([beta] = .148, P = .006). Caregiver confidence in contribution to self-care was positively affected by HF knowledge ([beta] = .334, P < .001).
Conclusions: Heart failure knowledge, perceived control, and social support facilitated family caregiver contribution to self-care of HF. Targeted interventions that consider these variables may effectively improve family caregiver contributions to self-care.