The Relationship Between Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Self-Efficacy in Patients with Heart Failure: A Descriptive Correlation Study

Background: Cardiac insufficiency is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world and affects quality of life more than other chronic diseases. Cardiac self-efficacy can be considered for improving the quality of life of patients with this disease. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between quality of life and cardiac self-efficacy in patients with heart failure. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was performed on 227 patients with heart failure who referred to the cardiac clinics of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals, Iran, 2016-17. Sampling was done in a simple random way. The data gathering tool was comprised of three parts: demographic data questionnaire, Sullivan cardiac self-efficacy questionnaire, and Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22. Results: The mean score of self-efficacy was 58.45 ± 25.92 and the mean score of satisfaction and importance of quality of life was 69.73 ± 18.72 and 82.76 ± 15.46, respectively. The results of this study showed that the importance of quality of life and satisfaction with quality of life are related to cardiac self-efficacy (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation coefficients showed a direct correlation between the scores of quality of life dimensions and the score of cardiac self-efficacy (in all cases, P < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a positive and significant relationship between quality of life and cardiovascular self-efficacy in patients with heart failure.