Outcome measurement: self-management in heart failure.
Improvement in heart failure outcomes depend on patients' abilities to care for themselves and manage aspects of their condition, and patient self-management has itself become an outcome to be measured. Some behaviors, such as diet and fluid restriction, are prescribed, and self-management is often equated with adherence to the treatment regimen. Self-management has also been defined as cognitive decision making in response to symptoms and conceptualized as a process with stages from novice to expert. Greater understanding and measurement of patient decision making and self-management expertise facilitates the development of effective interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Deaton
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Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
D015438:Health Behavior; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012648:Self Care