THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH LITERACY, SELF-EFFICACY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HEART FAILURE PATIENTS
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a growing healthcare concern nearing epidemic numbers.
The prevalence of HF was 5.8 million in 2006, with an annual incidence rate of 10 per
1000 after age 65. Mortality rates are high, as HF accounts for 282,754 deaths annually.
In 2005, annual healthcare costs associated with HF were approximately $35 billion.
These costs are estimated to increase to over $39.2 billion in 2010.
Quality of life (QOL) has been found to be a predictor of hospital readmissions
and mortality in persons with HF. Inadequate health literacy and low self-efficacy have
both been found to be related to poorer health outcomes, including lower QOL, yet few
studies have examined these concepts together among HF patients. The purpose of this
pilot study is to examine the possible relationships between health literacy, self-efficacy,
and QOL among patients with HF. Bandura's (1986) Social Cognitive Theory is utilized
as the guiding theoretical framework for this study.
A non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design was utilized. A
convenience sample of 5 inpatients with a primary diagnosis of HF was obtained from a
hospital located in Northeast Wisconsin. The Newest Vital Sign instrument was used to
measure health literacy; Self Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale
measured perceived self-efficacy; and QOL was measured using the Minnesota Living
with Heart Failure Questionnaire Data were analyzed using Pearson's r and descriptive
statistics.
The study demonstrated a highly significant relationship between self-efficacy
and QOL (r = -0.965, p = 0.01). The relationships between health literacy and self efficacy,
as well as health literacy and QOL, were not found to be significant. All patients
were found to have a high likelihood of having inadequate health literacy, had a
moderately high level of self-efficacy and moderately low QOL.
The results demonstrate the need to be aware of the prevalence of inadequate
health literacy in patients with HF and to seek interventions aimed at improving patients'
self-efficacy and QOL. The use of Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory may help
advanced nurse practitioners discover interventions that will improve the overall QOL
among HF patients.
Replication of this study with a larger sample size in multiple locations is
warranted to improve the statistical power, as well as the generalizability, of the results.
An experimental design would allow for causal inferences.
Subject
Patient education
Heart failure patients
Heart diseases patients attitudes
Chronically ill
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/47104Description
A Clinical Paper Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner