title: Family partner intervention influences self-care confidence and treatment self-regulation in patients with heart failure.
abstract: Heart failure self-care requires confidence in one's ability and motivation to perform a recommended behavior. Most self-care occurs within a family context, yet little is known about the influence of family on heart failure self-care or motivating factors.
  
  
  
  To examine the association of family functioning and the self-care antecedents of confidence and motivation among heart failure participants and determine if a family partnership intervention would promote higher levels of perceived confidence and treatment self-regulation (motivation) at four and eight months compared to patient-family education or usual care groups.
  
  
  
  Heart failure patients (N=117) and a family member were randomized to a family partnership intervention, patient-family education or usual care groups. Measures of patient's perceived family functioning, confidence, motivation for medications and following a low-sodium diet were analyzed. Data were collected at baseline, four and eight months.
  
  
  
  Family functioning was related to self-care confidence for diet (p=0.02) and autonomous motivation for adhering to their medications (p=0.05) and diet (p=0.2). The family partnership intervention group significantly improved confidence (p=0.05) and motivation (medications (p=0.004; diet p=0.012) at four months, whereas patient-family education group and usual care did not change.
  
  
  
  Perceived confidence and motivation for self-care was enhanced by family partnership intervention, regardless of family functioning. Poor family functioning at baseline contributed to lower confidence. Family functioning should be assessed to guide tailored family-patient interventions for better outcomes.
authors: Boston College, USA stampk@bc.edu.
authors: Kelly D
authors: KD
authors: Stamp
authors: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, USA.
authors: Sandra B
authors: SB
authors: Dunbar
authors: Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing, Georgia State University, USA.
authors: Patricia C
authors: PC
authors: Clark
authors: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, USA.
authors: Carolyn M
authors: CM
authors: Reilly
authors: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, USA.
authors: Rebecca A
authors: RA
authors: Gary
authors: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, USA.
authors: Melinda
authors: M
authors: Higgins
authors: Institute for Positive Psychology and Education Australian Catholic University, Australia.
authors: Richard M
authors: RM
authors: Ryan
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005190:Family; D005192:Family Health; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care
keywords: Heart failure; family interventions; low-sodium diet; medication administration; self-care confidence