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Evaluation of the European Heart Failure Self‐care Behaviour Scale in a United Kingdom population
Author(s) -
Shuldham Caroline,
Theaker Chris,
Jaarsma Tiny,
Cowie Martin R
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04371.x
Subject(s) - heart failure , cronbach's alpha , medicine , scale (ratio) , population , health care , outpatient clinic , gerontology , family medicine , psychometrics , clinical psychology , cardiology , environmental health , physics , quantum mechanics , economics , economic growth
Title. Evaluation of the European Heart Failure Self‐care Behaviour Scale in a United Kingdom populationAim. This paper is a report of a study to test the internal consistency, reliability and validity of the 12‐item European Heart Failure Self‐care Behaviour Scale in an English‐speaking sample in the United Kingdom. Background. The European Heart Failure Self‐care Behaviour Scale quantifies the measures patients take to manage their heart failure. Produced in the Netherlands and Sweden, it has been translated into English. Methods. A convenience sample of 183 patients (response rate 85%) with heart failure (New York Heart Association, Class I–IV) was recruited from an outpatient clinic between July 2004 and July 2005. Mainly men ( n = 143), they had a mean age of 65·6 years ( sd = 12·3). They completed the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, the Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index, and the European Heart Failure Self‐care Behaviour Scale during their clinic visit. The latter questionnaire was repeated at home within 2 weeks. Results. The scale was reliable but internal consistency was only moderate (Cronbach’s α = 0·69) and lower than in other European populations. It appears to be repeatable in the short‐term. Comparison with the Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index raised questions about whether the two questionnaires measured the same concept. Variance in self‐care was not explained by gender, age or severity of heart failure. Conclusion. As self‐care is an important component in the life of patients with heart failure, further exploration of the methods for measuring patients’ self‐care behaviours is warranted to enable healthcare staff to assess patients effectively. This would also help in understanding the applicability of tools in a range of patients, cultures and settings.