Quality of life and self-care in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases: The effect of a Traditional Chinese Medicine health educational intervention

• Published in: Applied nursing research Vol. 38; pp. 134 - 140
• Main Authors: Sun, Yi-Qin, Jiang, An-Li, Chen, San-Mei, Li, Hui, Xing, Hai-Yan, Wang, Fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Aged; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Cardiovascular Diseases - therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Quality of Life; Self Care; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Cardiovascular diseases; Self-care; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0897-1897; 1532-8201; 1532-8201
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2017.10.003

To explore the effects of a Traditional Chinese Medicine health educational intervention on the quality of life and self-care agency of elderly patients living with chronic cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The secondary prevention and treatment for chronic cardiovascular disease emphasize the importance of lifestyle modification. However, behavior-changing is difficult and individual choices are influenced by broader environmental factors. The lifestyle intervention for the purpose of self-care enhancing should be considered the driving force from the cultural element. The study was conducted from April 2014 to October 2014. Ninety-eight community dwelling individuals with chronic cardiovascular disease were recruited from Shaoxing and randomized. 48 participants were in the intervention group with a 6-month Traditional Chinese Medicine health education and 50 participants were in the control group with routine care. The main measurements included health-related quality of life and self-care agency, which was assessed by the Short Form-36 Chinese version and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale respectively, and were measured at the baseline and post intervention (6months after baseline). After 6months of intervention, the quality of life and self-care agency in the intervention group were significantly improved. The traditional Chinese medicine health education is an effective method for promoting quality of life and self-care agency in cardiovascular disease patients. It could be applied as adjunctive care for cardiovascular disease patients self-care supporting. •A 6-month Traditional Chinese Medicine health educational intervention program improved the quality of life and self-care agency of elderly patients living with chronic cardiovascular disease.•It provided a new viewpoint for diversified development strategies of self-care among CVD patients.