Self-care behavior, hope, and social support in Taiwanese patients awaiting heart transplantation

Received 28 October 2003; accepted 10 November 2004.

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.

Conclusion

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.

Keywords: Heart transplantation, Self-care behavior, Hope, Social support

a Tzu-Hui Institute of Technology, Taiwan, ROC

b College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, ROC

c Nursing Department, Cheng Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center, Taiwan, ROC

d National Open University, Taiwan, ROC

Corresponding author. College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu Hsing Street, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Tel.: +886 2 23777438; fax: +886 2 23772842.

PII: S0022-3999(04)00701-9

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.11.013

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