title: Self-care behavior, hope, and social support in Taiwanese patients awaiting heart transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the self-care behavior, hope, and social support in patients awaiting heart transplantation and to explore all the correlative and related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 45 participants who met the selection criteria were selected by purposive sampling from four medical centers in Taiwan. The three instruments Self-Care Behavior Scale, Herth Hope Index (HHI), and Social Support Inventory were used for data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant, positive correlations among self-care behavior, hope, and social support were observed. Social support was the best predictive factor for both self-care behavior and hope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of this study can help medical care personnel better understand the self-care behavior, hope, and social support in patients awaiting heart transplantation and can also serve as a reference when developing relevant interventions for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Tzu-Hui Institute of Technology, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Li-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pi-Chen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Fu-Jin
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Chi-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chii
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jeng
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014850:Waiting Lists