Effect of transtheoretical model-based health education on the self-care behaviors of patients with heart failure

Objective To evaluate the effect of transtheoretical model(TTM)-based health education on the self-care behaviors of patients with heart failure.Methods One hundred and fifty heart failure patients from January 2012 to June 2013 were randomly assigned to two groups,75 cases in each group.The patients in the experimental group received TTM-based health education;the patients in the control group received conventional health education.All patients were investigated with the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) at baseline,1 month and 3 months after intervention.Results After intervention,the scores of self-care maintaining,self care management and self care confidence in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group.Conclusions TTM-based health education can effectively improve the self-care behaviors of patients with heart failure. Key words: Primary heart failure;  Transtheoretical model;  Self care behavior;  Application